That puts us on a pace to surpass the nationwide record of 14.4 million in circulation that we set in Fiscal Year 1995. The commitment of city government to provide funding for six-day service last year had a positive impact for the borough's residents, who continue to flock to our libraries. Being open six days a week enabled 8 million people to visit the Queens Library last year. In only the first half of the current fiscal year, our preliminary figures already show nearly 4.4 million visitors. Therefore, the need to maintain full library service is our top priority.
Children continue to participate in our unique after-school programs in large numbers.
If the Library were forced to close for even one additional day a week, these children would have no place else to go. Children and young adults who come to the Library are making good use of it. We'd like to ensure that the Library remains the invaluable resource it currently is, not only for our children and young adults, but for everyone in Queens. The Queens Library is moving aggressively forward in its use of advanced technologies linking people and information. During the next few months we will then roll out this system to each of our branches.