Posted Friday, January 2, 2009 --- 3:45 p.m.

As the economy slows down business at libraries all across the state is heating up.

"I'm a full time student so I am trying to pinch pennies as much as possible.," said Trista Mason who just got a library card for herself and her young daughter.

Like many people, Mason is heading to the library in these tough economic times.

"I don't have Internet at home and it saves a lot of money for me," she said.

Kathy Wolkoff has been a librarian at Meadowridge off Raymond Road for nine years. She says whenever the economy slows down their business speeds up.

"People come in to look for jobs, apply for jobs, they want help writing their resume," said Wolkoff. "They are looking for books about interviewing."

Visits to seven of Madison's nine libraries are up this year over last year. Some like the South Madison and Hawthorne branches are up by as much as 15 percent.

Libraries offer their members CD, DVDs, magazines, and of course the Internet, all free of charge.

"There are a lot of things that you can only do online," said Tana Elias who's with Madison Public Libraries. "And one of four people in Madison and in Wisconsin don't have access to the Internet. So if that is the only place you can apply for a job you have to come to a place that has Internet access and we have it for free."

In addition to the obvious benefits there is another reason people choose community libraries during tough economic times.

Said Wolkoff, "It is really sort of a de facto community center for the area. This is a place where people can come and get some recreation and entertainment for not a lot of money."

"I have two kids so I have to manage around them and their needs," added Mason. "And they need to play sometimes and they have a play area here which is real nice. So they can read books, play and have fun all at the same spot."

The Sun Prairie Library has seen an 8 percent increase this year compared to last.

Racine Libraries are up 10 percent in November alone. And all the way on the Eastern Shore, their 13 libraries have seen a five percent increase this year.

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Posted Friday, January 2, 2009 --- 2:45 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- More people are making trips to the library as the economy worsens.

Libraries statewide say more people are checking out books, movies and magazines to save money on purchases and rental fees. Library computers also are in demand as people look for work.

Director Jessica MacPhail says circulation at the Racine Public Library's main branch was up 10 percent in November compared to the year before. MacPhail has been a librarian for more than 30 years and says demand always jumps when the economy dips.

The Sun Prairie library saw an 8 percent circulation gain during the first 11 months of 2008. Director Tracy Herold says that's the largest since the building opened in 1999.

The Eastern Shores Library System reports a 5 percent circulation increase at its 13 libraries and bookmobile in the Sheboygan area.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.