"To me that was the most startling question in the survey," Reynolds said. He also urged them to call the library a community center, since there are many other activities besides books in the library.

Richard Ryan, who has served on the committee working for a new library, said he thought it was more important to look at the people who go to the library. Attendance averages 8,980 a week, with 793,433 total items checked out last year.

Norman Public Library director Susan Gregory said the library serves the community "cradle to grave."

"We don't just serve children. ... We don't just serve seniors," Gregory said. "We have enormous diversity on age and backgrounds. ... We are doing an enormous business in 32,000 square feet."

She said in the past couple of weeks, the need for the library has become even more evident with the bad economic news.

"A lot of customers have told us in the past few weeks that they are rediscovering their public library," she said.

Masters said the cities included in the Pioneer Library System provide their own buildings. The PLS operates the libraries and provides resources that are shared by the entire system.

She said because of the passage of the millage referendum in May, the budget to operate the Norman library has increased by 86 percent.

"We'll have more books, more computers and more materials," Masters said.

East and west branch libraries are proposed at about 12,000 square feet apiece. The libraries would not try to duplicate the resources of the main library, but would be a place to pick up books on hold and provide some computer space.

Gregory said the branches would not have the computer training center.

"Naturally the libraries have become places where the community meets," she said. "The role of the library has been transformed from what we grew up with ... you have a different concept of a library. And this is a national trend."

Rosenthal said councilmembers are very sensitive to the national economy, as far as bringing a referendum on the library to the voters.

"We've got the same jitters you do," she said. But she said she wanted to be poised to have a vote on the library when the appropriate time is here.

Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com