| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
 |
| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
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| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
|
| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
|
| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
|
| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
|
| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
|
| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
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Olympics no boon to Main Library
By Lynn Arave
Deseret News staff writer
Amid all the Olympic events and excitement, the downtown Salt Lake City Library is far less active than usual this time of year. However, other libraries in Salt Lake County are generally as busy as usual or more so.
Sitting at 209 E. 500 South, south of Washington Square, the Main Library is just across the street from Olympic-related events.
"We're less busy than usual," Dana Tumpowsky, community relations manager for the city library, said. "We have no parking."
All the usual parking places are taken for the Olympics, and she advises anyone coming to the library to use public transportation.
An irony of the library's situation is that it has expanded, with some special features specifically for the Olympics. It has five new art exhibits under way, 11 new subscriptions to international newspapers, welcome banners in foreign languages and a special book list of Olympic and winter sports materials.
About the only area where the downtown library has seen an increase in use is in its Internet computers. The library has added 11 new Internet stations just for the Olympics.
"They're busy," Tumpowsky said. "There's a 30-minute time limit, and we're asking people to sign up on a list." Foreign visitors are using the terminals to check e-mail.
The Main Library is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours are 1 to 6 p.m.
However, Salt Lake City's five branch libraries are very busy.
The Chapman Library, 577 S. 900 West, reports 25 percent more holds for materials than usual. Librarians also say they are seeing many new faces.
All Salt Lake City libraries are also using all their available television sets to show Olympic coverage to those who want to come and watch it.
"Folks seem to be enjoying watching the events on our TV, and they like our popcorn, too," Alveeda Lauscher, a librarian at the Foothill Branch, 1135 S. 2100 East, said. "We're definitely seeing an increase in patrons, especially dropping off materials that belong to the Main Library. Our Internet stations are in constant use as well."
Scott Russell, marketing and communications manager for the Salt Lake County Library System, said all 17 of its libraries have fairly normal business for this time of year.
"The Internet usage is up, especially relating to e-mail," he said.
Requests for temporary library cards from out-of-state visitors have also increased the past few weeks. Those are the only two usage areas affected.
"Color Photography of Native American Archaeological Sites in Utah," "Winter Magic: Children's Postcard Designs" and Olympic banners by students are among the displays at the Main Salt Lake Library. Each of the branch libraries also has one exhibit.
E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com
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February 17, 2002
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