30 percent spike in circulation at Chicago library

The Chicago Public Library is reporting a 30 percent jump in circulation over the past year.

Officials say the main reason is the economy.

Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey dedicated a new branch on the city's South Side over the weekend. She says people are realizing that they can get their books and CDs for free instead of buying them.

The library is also reporting a 100 percent increase in online holds. That's reserving books online to pick up at a local branch.

The Chicago Public Library, which opened in 1873, is one of the largest public libraries in the nation. It has 79 locations.

According to 2008 statistics from the American Library Association, the Chicago Public Library holds nearly 6 million volumes.