In the most recent evaluation of the nation’s largest library systems, The Indianapolis Public Library again has been ranked among the top urban libraries with expenditures of at least $30 million annually.
It’s the third consecutive year that The Indianapolis Public Library has received a 4-star designation as an “American Star Library” according to the recent Library Journal Index of Public Library Service.
The index, based on 2009 data compiled by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, examined various per capita performance measures, including patron visits, circulation, program attendance and computer use. The Library experienced record-breaking usage in 2009 in all areas: a circulation of 17.1 million items, over 5.9 million patron visits, and 1.2 million computer session hours. Over 312,000 individuals attended free Library programs designed to assist them in achieving their lifelong learning goals, ranging from computer and job assistance workshops to author visits, craft programs, and youth literacy programs.
“We recognize that this latest ranking reflects a period before we made difficult but necessary decisions in late 2010 to reduce the Library’s hours of service,” stated Laura Bramble, the Library’s CEO. “However, we are still proud of our rating as an American Star Library as we continue to play a vital role in the lives of families and individuals in our community. Plans to restore a portion of those service hours will help us serve even more patrons in 2012.”
The index by Library Journal, the oldest and most respected publication covering the library industry, focuses on actual performance measures rather than inputs such as expenditures, collection size and staffing.
More information on the index can be found at www.libraryjournal.com.
