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Library usage across Frederick County is up as more residents turn to them for free books, free videos and free access to public computers.

Because of the economic crisis, residents are flocking to the county libraries for more than free entertainment. They are also using the library's computers to polish up their resumes and search for jobs.

"We have people coming out of our ears," said Darrell Batson, director of Frederick County Public Libraries. "When times are bad, people go to the library. When people don't have money to go anyplace, they rediscover books."

Batson said they are seeing an increase in every aspect of their services.

"We've seen a steady increase [in attendance] for children's story times," he said. "We're seeing a heavy use of our computers, as people apply for jobs and brush up on their resumes. Some of these people don't have computers and when times are bad one of the first things to go [from the family budget] is the Internet [service expense]. Or they can't afford to buy books and DVDs."

Circulation in fiscal 2009, which ended June 30, jumped 11.5 percent from fiscal 2008, Batson said. Library registrations are up 7.3 percent and attendance at children's programs is up 10.3 percent.

But as county libraries fill a void for residents, they are facing challenges of their own.

For the current fiscal 2010, the library's operating budget is $11.2 million, Batson said. That is a $400,000 less than fiscal 2009.

"We took a $400,000 cut from both the county and state," he said.

And more state cuts could be coming. Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to announce further state budget cuts Wednesday.

Batson said any additional cuts may force them to do away with some programs and reduce hours.

"We have already cut everywhere we can cut," he said. "There is nothing else to cut, except people and operations. We're not the federal government. We don't print money."

But other counties are finding usage increasing as the state weighs budget cuts.

"It's a statewide issue," said Paula Isett with the state's Division of Library Development and Services. "How can you have budget cuts when you are used so heavily? What do libraries have to cut? The first thing they cut is operations. This is a critical time for libraries."

E-mail Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@gazette.net.

Two free job-related courses are available through Frederick County Public Libraries this fall:

"Job Search Savvy"

-Classes intended to help job seekers better market themselves to employers

-3:30-4:30 p.m. on four consecutive Sundays beginning Sept. 13

-Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St.

-To register, call 301-600-7004 or visit www.fcpl.org.

Resume writing classes

-5:30-8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of September, October and November

-C. Burr Artz Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick

-Concludes with a follow-up session with a trained resume specialist from the Frederick Workforce Center

-To register, call 301-600-1630, ext. 3 or visit www.fcpl.org.