The numbers add up to a community library

I am not a big numbers person. I have a recurring nightmare that I am late for my college math class and when I get there, I realize it is the end of the semester and I haven’t completed any assignments. I am so not ready for the final exam. I never have that dream about English class because I love words. Numbers, bad. Words, good. So, when it is necessary to crunch numbers, my skills are best used by telling the story behind the numbers that were crunched by someone else.

Other people seem to be very interested in numbers. For instance, I am always asked about library statistics. I have to say, it is rather remarkable that over 28,000 visits to the East Bonner County Library District’s branches, bookmobile and outreach services were recorded in August alone.

Our website, which is a virtual library in itself, had more than 75,000 visits and 142,472 page searches that same month. Have you ever wondered if eBooks are taking over print books? In August, you and your Bonner County friends checked out 21,559 print fiction and nonfiction books, but only 1,475 eBooks were downloaded from OverDrive on our website.

You also borrowed over 2,000 audiobooks and Playaways. Even though the weather was nice, you found time to watch 25,961 DVDs and you borrowed over 2,300 CDs.

Compare that to the 1,283 digital downloads and that tells us that either you enjoy coming into the library to browse our physical collection or many of you still are not aware that you can stream movies, TV shows and music from our website. There are even more great finds on www.ebonnerlibrary.org. You should explore it sometime. You will be surprised at how much is in there.

Back to numbers: Volunteers clocked in over 580 hours in August. Our volunteers are amazing, doing everything from shelving books to helping out at children’s programs.

We had 1,964 kids attend our youth programs, which include children’s and teens events. We issued 256 new library cards.

Over 2,300 people accessed our free, high speed Wi-Fi and 4,725 of you came in to use the computers.

Our Sandpoint and Clark Fork branch libraries, Bookmobile, online library and outreach services get a lot of love. All of the classes, workshops and events below take place at the Sandpoint Branch unless otherwise stated.

n Saturday, Oct. 1 — Sandpoint Library’s North Idaho Reads Community-Wide Read finale. Both programs will be held at Columbia Bank, 414 Church St. in Sandpoint, 9 a.m. Screening of the film “Orphan Train”, a documentary on the poignant American history of trains carrying orphans to new homes in the Midwest, 10:30 a.m. A history of passenger train travel in Sandpoint. Local Train Historian Aric Spence reveals the captivating past of Bonner County through the eyes of a train buff. The 2016 North Idaho Reads book selection is “Orphan Train” by Kristina Baker Kline. For more information call 263-6930 or visit www.NorthIdahoReads.org.

n Saturday, Oct. 1 — Friends of the Library book sale, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Support the Friends of the Library and find some good deals for yourself at the October used book and media sale featuring Nordic mysteries, Westerns, oversize table-top books and North & South Pole Exploration books. Also find DVDs and CDs.

n Monday, Oct. 3 — Teen Make It, 3 p.m. Makerspace tinkering for teens with 3D printing design, Arduinos, robotics and more.

n Tuesday, Oct. 4 — Mother Goose Reading & Singing, 10:15 a.m., ages 0-3.

n Tuesday, Oct. 4 — Preschool Story Time, 11 a.m., ages 2-5.

n Tuesday, Oct. 4 — Make It at the Library, 3 p.m.; Makerspace activities for kids including robotics, Arduinos, Legos and fiber arts.

n Tuesday, Oct. 4 — Robotics with Lego Mindstorm, 3 p.m., ages 8 plus; Clark Fork Branch, 601 Main.

n Wednesday, Oct. 5 — Lego Club, 2 p.m.; open creative play with Legos.

n Wednesday, Oct. 5 — Clark Fork Make It, 2 p.m., Crafts and tinkering for kids, Clark Fork branch.

n Wednesday, Oct. 5 — Author presentation: Rachel Clark, “Orca Whales” and “The Blackfish Prophecy”, 3:30-5 p.m. Rachel will talk about orca whales and other marine mammals and the importance of protecting them. She will share her story, “The Blackfish Prophecy”, a book released on Earth Day, 2016. Both young adults and parents will enjoy this free presentation. Information: 263-6930

n Wednesday, Oct. 5 — Clark Fork 3D Printing Class for Adults, 4 p.m. Learn what 3D printers are used for and how to design your own 3D printable object.A beginner level class at the Clark Fork Library, 601 Main. Preregistration required; call 263-6930.

n Wednesday, Oct. 5 — Chili social at Laughing Dog Brewery, 5 p.m. The Sandpoint Friends of the Library host their first evening social at Laughing Dog’s new facility at 508 Schweitzer Plaza Drive with a facility tour and chili social.

n Saturday, Oct. 8 — Indie Author Day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; event highlights local authors. Visit www.ebonnerlibrary.org for the full schedule of panels, performances and readings.