MADISON, Wis. -- Tough economic times means more people are checking out their local libraries, hoping to cut down on the amount they spend on books, magazines and movies.

In Madison, libraries are getting busier as household budgets get tighter.

"We're seeing increases most frequently or more often in our more economically diverse neighborhoods," said Tana Elias, Web resources coordinator for the central branch of the Madison Public Library.

Visits to Madison's nine public libraries are up 0.7 percent from last year, with the biggest increase of nearly 13 percent at the south Madison location. The central location is about 1.7 percent busier.

The libraries have seen increased usage across the board, but especially in the frequency with which the libraries' computers are being used.

"We have seen increased Internet use. We have 858 uses per day," said Elias.

That increased usage is coming from people like retired Madisonian Rosemary Lee, who said she can't afford Internet access at home anymore. Lee now gets her news online at the library.

Libraries are busier statewide and nationwide.

"Nationally, library use had been up even before the economy down-turned. But now with the economic situation, we're seeing even more growth and use of libraries," said Lisa Strand, executive director of the Wisconsin Library Association.

The Wisconsin Library Association said the bad economy means that while library usage is up, funding will be tighter than ever.

But officials said libraries make excellent use of taxpayer dollars.

"For every dollar of taxpayer investment, there's a $4.06 return," said Strand.

"It's a taxpayer service, and you might as well get your money's worth by coming down to your local library," Elias added.

Madison's central library has seen check-outs increase 1.7 percent in the last year, with the Hawthorne Branch on East Washington reporting a 9 percent increase in check-outs.