Swamped on Sunday

Emily Battles of Sifton surfs the Web on Sunday at the VancouverMall Community Library. Battles and her daughter, Edessa, selectedthree books for nighttime reading. VanMall is the only branch in thelibrary system open Sundays.

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The Vancouver Mall Community Library is a busy place on Sundays,when it gets up to 1,000 visitors.

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There wasnt a sale, but the Vancouver Mall Community Library wasbustling Sunday.

Patrons were seeking books and waiting to use the nine computers.

The branch, which has been around for more than a quartercentury, is the only one in the Fort Vancouver Regional LibraryDistrict open on Sundays.

Weve always been a busy branch but this (being open Sundays) hasmade us even more popular, said Cynthia Ernst, circulationsupervisor at the branch. Shes worked here for 15 years and saysbudget cuts prevent other branches from being open Sundays.

Ernst said Sunday attendance reaches 1,000, even though thebranch is only open from noon to 6 p.m.

Im waiting to go on the computer, said Brian Johnson, 14, aSkyview High School student. Sometimes I play games and sometimes Iwatch shows because I dont have Internet or cable.

Nearby, avid reader Emily Wattez, 17, a Prairie High Schoolsenior, said she would check out Shiloh, by James Reasoner. Itsabout four brothers who are fighting for the Confederate Army, shesaid. I am very big into the American Civil War.

Emily Battles of Sifton, was at a computer with her daughter,Edessa, who is 3.

We got some books for her. We read every night, Battles said. Idont have the Internet, so Wi-Fi is great. She said she uses thelibrary computers to check Facebook and to do budgeting. They werechecking out three books for Edessa, including The Big Ugly Monsterand the Little Stone Rabbit by Chris Wormell.

Shes trying to learn how to do a rsum, Morgan Potter, 14, ofVancouver said of her 11-year-old sister, Tara Potter, who was atthe computer. The girls were with their mom, Dana Potter, apreschool teacher who was checking out books.

On yet another computer, Garry White, 44, of Vancouver, said hehas a computer at home but does not have Internet. So, he said, Imlooking for some cars. Im just looking for something to get frompoint A to point B. I also check out sports and keep up on Facebook.

Jerry Haxby, 47, retired from the Army, was waiting to use acomputer. Im going through school right now, so the budget has to bewatched, he said, explaining he has a computer but not the Internet.

Seven of the computers can be used for up to one hour and twocomputers are saved for quick information, with a 15-minute limit.

Librarian Ernst said it is nice to be a sought-out branch.

Patrons really appreciate that were so helpful and reallyappreciate that were open on Sundays, she said, adding that theVancouver Community Library is set to be open on Sundays when thenew branch opens in July in downtown Vancouver.

Ernst said the Vancouver Mall branch has 14 staff members andnoted, Were open more hours than any other library branch.

Whats new at the VanMall branch?

Check out the Did You Miss This One? shelf. It offers popularbooks with no holds allowed. Readers can keep a maximum of two booksfor three weeks.

Books include: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by StiegLarsson (along with the two other books in the series); Worst Caseby James Patterson; Fall of Giants by Ken Follett; Wicked Appetiteby Janet Evanovich; and The First Rule by Robert Crais.

Vancouver Mall Community Library

Where: On the second floor, near J.C. Penney store

Telephone: 360-892-8256

Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6p.m. Thursday through Saturday; Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.