Blog: South Pasadena Library Annual Circulation Tops 450,000 for the 1st Time

Earlier in April 2013, the California State Library released its California Library Statistics 2012, the latest of its annual reports on library statistical performance measures, covering the previous fiscal year. The report covers the period of July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 and 182 public library jurisdictions are profiled.  Of these, there are 46 county libraries, 117 city, 12 district, and 6 Joint Power Authority public libraries. Out of the 182 library jurisdictions, South Pasadena Public Library is in the top 15% in California in per capita checkouts, program attendance, and library visits.

South Pasadena Public Library, with its service area of a mere 3.44 square miles and a population of 25,693, enjoyed the very healthy number of 307,058 visitors during the 12 month stretch.  That averages out to approximately 875
visitors for every day that the Library is open --or more than 11 and a half
visits per year for every man, woman, and child in the city.  These are impressive figures no matter what, but especially because the Library has no dedicated parking spaces of its own.  Fortunately, the Library is located in an area where many residents walk, ride bikes, and take public transportation. 

The South Pasadena Public Library’s total annual circulation for all materials: books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, etc. is also noteworthy, having exceeded 450,000 for the very first time in 2010-2011.   That’s more than 17 annual checkouts per
capita. With its circulation at 452,945 items, it rose from 431,573, an
impressive increase of about 5% over the previous year. 

California Library Statistics 2012 also shows that the South Pasadena Library has 33,862 registered borrowers.  That total constitutes about 8,000 more
cardholders than South Pasadena has residents. It’s a figure that speaks volumes about local residents’ interests in reading, music, films, cultural events, and lifelong learning.  The total is especially remarkable given the fact that the neighboring communities of Alhambra, Monterey Park, and San Marino all have new, very sizeable library buildings, and Pasadena Public Library has 10 facilities.

During 2010-2011, South Pasadena presented 425 programs that drew audiences totaling more than 20,000. The vast majority of the programs, 291 in fact, were for children, although the Library still offered 134 programs for adults.  Some of them, it should come as no surprise, were presented for audiences of all ages.