VanMall library swamped on Sundays

Check out the “Did You Miss This One?” shelf. It offers popular books with no holds allowed. Readers can keep a maximum of two books for three weeks.

Books include: “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” by Stieg Larsson (along with the two other books in the series); “Worst Case” by James Patterson; “Fall of Giants” by Ken Follett; “Wicked Appetite” by Janet Evanovich; and “The First Rule” by Robert Crais.

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

o Telephone: 892-8256

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

Fort Vancouver Regional Library:

http://www.fvrl.org

There wasn’t a sale, but the Vancouver Mall Community Library was bustling Sunday.

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

The branch, which has been around for more than a quarter century, is the only one in the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District open on Sundays.

“We’ve always been a busy branch but this (being open Sundays) has made us even more popular,” said Cynthia Ernst, circulation supervisor at the branch. She’s worked here for 15 years and says budget cuts prevent other branches from being open Sundays.

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

“I’m waiting to go on the computer,” said Brian Johnson, 14, a Skyview High School student. “Sometimes I play games and sometimes I watch shows because I don’t have Internet or cable.”

Nearby, avid reader Emily Wattez, 17, a Prairie High School senior, said she would check out “Shiloh,” by James Reasoner. “It’s about four brothers who are fighting the Confederate Army,” she said. “I am very big into the American Civil War.”

Emily Battles of Sifton, was at a computer with her daughter, Edessa, who is 3½.

“We got some books for her. We read every night,” Battles said. “I don’t have the Internet, so wi-fi is great.” She said she uses the library computers to check Facebook and to do budgeting. They were checking out three books for Edessa, including “The Big Ugly Monster and the Little Stone Rabbit” by Chris Wormell.

“She’s trying to learn how to do a résumé,” Morgan Potter, 14, of Vancouver said of her 11-year-old sister, Tara Potter, who was at the computer. The girls were with their mom, Dana Potter, a preschool teacher who was checking out books.

On yet another computer, Garry White, 44, of Vancouver, said he has a computer at home but does not have Internet. So, he said, “I’m looking for some cars. I’m just looking for something to get from point 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 a computer. “I’m going through school right now, so the budget has to be watched,” he said, explaining he has a computer but not the Internet.

Seven of the computers can be used for up to one hour and two computers 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 we’re so helpful and really appreciate that we’re open on Sundays,” she said, adding that the Vancouver Community Library is set to be open on Sundays when the new branch opens in July in downtown Vancouver.

Ernst said the Vancouver Mall branch has 14 staff members and noted, “We’re open more hours than any other library branch.”