Community use of library services earns national recognition

Staff gathered for a September 2019 meeting.

Robust use of Vernon Area Public Library’s services has placed the library in the top 5 percent of the nation’s public libraries for community engagement. For the 13th year, Library Journal looked at thousands of libraries across the country and used key measurements to zero in on a relatively short list of top performers. 

Library Journal recently announced its “Star Libraries” for 2020, giving star status to 262 of the 5,608 libraries it evaluated. The evaluation was based on the most recently reported data from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for fiscal year 2018, which ended in June 2019. 

The industry publication rates libraries by volume of public use as measured by per capita circulation of physical and electronic materials, library visits, program attendance, public internet access, and Wi-Fi sessions. A combined score identifies the top performers—“Star Libraries”—which are awarded three, four, or five stars, similar to the Michelin Guide’s restaurant ratings. 

Vernon Area Public Library District received a 4-star rating and this was the sixth consecutive year that the library was included on the national list. Fifteen other Illinois libraries earned star status including nearby Northbrook, Ela (Lake Zurich), and Lake Forest public libraries.

“We are honored to receive this national recognition. We’re fortunate to serve a community that supports their public library, and to have a Board of Library Trustees that is committed to providing the best services to the community,” said Library Director Cynthia Fuerst. “It’s wonderful for our staff’s dedication and hard work to be recognized like this.”

Library Journal's annual list is used by the library industry to identify best practices and trends in library use. The full list of 262 ranked libraries, detailed explanation of the index measurements and information about trends are available online at libraryjournal.com.