Library Journal Releases Report on "America's Star Libraries” in LJ Index of Public Library Service 2009

Library Journal’s new national rating of public libraries, the LJ Index of Public Library Service, identifies the "star” libraries in the United States. It launched as a cover story in the February 15 issue of the magazine and is now available at http://www.libraryjournal.com/ljindex2009. The LJ Index is offered as an overall indication of a library’s service performance relative to peer libraries and provides guidance on how all public libraries can better assess their performance.

The index, by Ray Lyons and Keith Curry Lance and sponsored by Baker & Taylor’s Bibliostat, rates 7,115 public libraries with total expenditures of $10,000 or more that serve populations of at least 1,000 according to four per capita output measures that indicate public service—circulation, visits, program attendance, and public Internet uses—based on 2006 data compiled by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (http://www.imls.gov). The top libraries in each category, organized by ranges of operating expenditures, were then assigned five, four, or three Michelin guide-esque stars.

A state-by-state glance shows the New York libraries walked away with the most stars, 34, with Ohio right behind, at 31. Among the five-star libraries from coast to coast and of all sizes are the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NC; Middle Country Public Library, NY; Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH; Hennepin County Library, MN; Central City Public Library, NE; Salt Lake City Public Library, UT; Shuter Library of Angle Fire, NM; Pasadena Public Library, CA; and Delta Community Library, AK.

The LJ Index report recommends that library administrators use the ratings as one of several measures of their performance and look at the libraries near them statistically for context on their performance. Some of the factors impacting service levels include location and demographics, organization and funding, and leadership and management.

About Library Journal

In its 132^nd year of publication, Library Journal is the oldest and most respected publication covering the library field, read by over 100,000 library directors, administrators, and staff. LJ is published by Reed Business Information (www.reedbusiness.com/us), North America’s largest business-to-business information provider and part of Reed Elsevier (NYSE: RUK and ENL).