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Like other librarians in the area, the staff at Gibsonville Public Library are taking care of a lot more patrons lately.

"Normally this time of year it's fairly quiet," said librarian Kathy Loy.

This year, the librarians didn't get the downtime they're used to.

"A lot of mornings, I'll open the door and there's people outside waiting," Loy said.

The four computers are almost always busy. Many people are coming in to apply for jobs online or work on applications.

And more children are squeezing into the children's story time room.

From 2007 to 2008, the number of visits made to the library increased by 30 percent.

"We get excited about seeing the growth," Loy said.

Loy hopes that as the library gets busier, it also will grow in what it offers the community. She and the other staff have set goals for 2009, including adding audio books to the collection, increasing the biography and nonfiction sections for children and adults, and bringing in guest speakers.

But the other goals will depend largely on community involvement.

Loy wants to establish an active Friends of the Library organization to do fundraising and help with projects, including sponsoring a book club for adults and teens.

A donated van for a bookmobile also is on the wish list. As some longtime patrons have become too ill or elderly to drive, the librarians have dropped off books for them on lunch breaks or after work. A bookmobile would be able to better serve them and other shut-ins.

Loy also hopes to beautify the library grounds with plants and have local high school students tutor children.

And the library's need for volunteers is growing.

"I think what we need is adult volunteers to come on a regular basis ... and that's hard to get," said assistant librarian Yvonne Scott. The library is happy to work around people's schedules, Scott said.

"We're very flexible," she said.

Volunteers can file books, straighten the shelves, answer phones and do other activities that allow the librarians more time to help patrons, process books and do inventory. The library does not have an electronic system.

"I think it brings the community closer when people come in and volunteer," Loy said. "And they're helping to build their library."

Contact Jamie Kennedy Jones at jamie.kennedy@news-record.com or 449-4610.