Library gets 3 stars

Greene County Public Library has received a three-star rating by Library Journal as part of the Index of Public Library Service. Star ratings are meant to “spotlight the best of the best across America” according to Library Journal.

For the last 12 years Library Journal has measured several factors to determine a library’s rating: total circulation, circulation of electronic materials, library visits, program attendance, and public internet computer use. This year, WiFi sessions were added to the factors used to rate libraries.

Out of the 6,333 U.S. public libraries rated in Library Journal’s Index, only 261 received a star rating this year, including several area libraries. Dayton Metro Library, which occupies a different budget category from Greene County, also received three stars. In smaller budget categories, Wright Memorial Public Library and Washington-Centerville Public Library received four- and five-star ratings respectively.

Ohio was second only to New York in terms of overall star libraries. Greene County Public Library Executive Director Karl Colón is grateful not only for the recognition by the flagship library publication, but also the support the library receives from the public. “We are lucky to have a strong community who loves the library and funding systems that recognize the value a library adds to a community,” he says. “We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with so many of our neighbors as a star library. One of the many reasons Ohio is great is because of its strong libraries.”

A full listing of Library Journal’s star libraries as well as rating criteria and classifications can be found at libraryjournal.com. CONTRIBUTED