The new Gloucester Library Point branch has been very busy since it opened Oct. 11, with growing circulation and many new patrons.

Library director Diane Rebertus said circulation at the branch for October was 2,258, compared to 2,141 in October 2010. The October total was recorded despite the branch’s having been closed almost half of that month while the location at York River Crossing Shopping Center at Hayes was being readied.

Rebertus said she has been surprised at how many new patrons have been logged. In October, she said there were 78 new patrons, up from 29 new patrons in October 2010. She added that the new branch is much easier to get to than the previous branch on Route 17.

There has been an increase in computer as well, Rebertus said. This October, 334 computer hours were logged (again counting from Oct. 11), compared to 394 for the entire month of October one year ago.

Reference questions have been way up at the new branch, partly because of a new reportin...