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nell University and earned his master’s in library science at St.John’s University. "Also, it seems that more people are turning off their television sets and

turning on their books."

He points out, too, that more readers are turning to their libraries because of the cost of books. In 1981, for instance, the average cost of hard cover book excluding the higher priced

books, was $24.

"We wonder whether there will be a time soon when a massive number of people will stop buying

books," he says.

The population growth in Cape May County also is another factor causing increased readership. Last year the main library at Cape May Court House circulated . over a quarter of a million books alone. That does not include the total number of people who used the library for other purposes such as references or periodical reading. There are over 500 periodical titles including loose leaf services, indexes and magazines. An informal two day survey conducted last January showed there were 600 visitors to the library on one day and 700 the

next.

BELYING A popular conception, another survey showed that two-thirds of those who use the library are adult non-students and that 70 per cent of those who use the circulation department are adults of whom two-thirds read non-fiction. Because many of Cape May County’s students commute to college, additional pressure is placed on the library to buy academic reference books that might not be found in similar libraries.

County Library Booms

Leonard is pleased to report that more high school students seem to be coming to the library this year than in the recent past. “This may reflect the back to basics movement that seems to be occurring in our school systems," Leonard said. “People are realizing that in order to get along in the world you have to know how to read and write. And once you are exposed to good literature reading becomes a life long addic-

tion.”

Leonard came to Cape May County from Brooklyn, where he was a librarian, in 1971, serving here first as a reference librarian, then assistant director before he became a director in 1979 WHAT HE SAW at the beginning was hardly an inspiration for a new librarian in Cape May Coun-

ty. The library shared a Court House building with the county superintendent of schools. The library totaled about 2,200 square feet and there were just two seats for the public. There was a table .SO: but it was unuseable because it was piled high with books. „ Th ® H ew library, situated on' Mechanic Street, was under construction and Leonard moved into it with the rest of the staff in June of 1971, six months after his arrival in Cape May County. The library sponsors many civic events. Recently it held its annual Senior Citizen’s Art Cohtest. A parade celebrated National Library Week during which staff members staged a puppet show. Free feature films are shown every Friday night from September through May. A weekly summer series of selected short subjects will take place every Tuesday night in July and August starting on July 6 at 7:30 p m A summer reading program is being planned for children. Films are always big at the Cape May County Library. Last • year the library circulated 2,400,16 millimeter features films and shorts to residents and organizations. There is no Cost for

tlie films, but there is a $1 fee for renting each of (he two projectors. But reading, of course, is the real name of the game at the library whidh system jvas established in l925bfter a referen dum about a year earlier Leonard is especially-pleased to fihrary ma ^ visit 0 rs ^ hi^ "When people learn to read well, ’ he says, “it just makes them thirsty for more.”

on the cover-

Young and old alike arc utilizing thr services of the Cape May County Library. Thest* yoiingsters seem to he totally absorbed in library’s reading material. Photos by Doris Ward

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LIBRARY DIRECTOR Thomas Leonard demonstrates b a viuc*. magazine index, one of many new modern attractions at the library.

CAPC MAY COUNTY MAGAZIN[/3