A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Kenton County Public Library gets four-star ranking from Library Journal; one of three honored in state


Annually the trade publication Library Journal, ranks libraries based on library visits, circulation, e-book circulation, program attendance and public Internet computer use. For the fifth year in a row, the Kenton County Public Library in Northern Kentucky has received a Star ranking.
 
Library Journal measures libraries from across the country. The LJ Index gives an overall indication of how libraries stack up to their peers nationally. Library Journal ranks libraries on a three, four or five-star rating. Kenton County received a four star rating.
 
The Kenton County Public Library was one of only two libraries in the Greater Cincinnati region and one of 25 libraries in the Southeastern United States, to receive this prestigious honor. It was one of only three in Kentucky to be recognized.

The Library was ranked 16th in its category based on libraries across the nation, moving up one spot from the 2016 ranking. Kenton County was ranked third in its category for library program attendance. The Kenton County Public Library conducted over 7,000 programs with more than 190,000 people attending these programs.

The 2017 Star Libraries are found in 40 states scattered across the country geographically. The top four states, ranked by their numbers of Star Libraries, are New York (31), Ohio (25), Illinois (22), and California (13). There is a tie for fifth place between Kansas and Massachusetts (12 each). The Top Ten Star Library states are rounded out by Nebraska and Texas (11 each), Alabama (10), and Colorado (8). Like these Top Ten states, the remaining 30 Star Library states traverse the nation and are in every major geographical region.
 
“Being recognized on a national level is a true honor for our library system and community,” says Dave Schroeder, executive director for the Kenton County Public Library. “When the people of Kenton County established the library district 50 years ago, I am sure they could not have imagined the growth in collections and services that have taken place. What started as a small city library located in Covington has blossomed into a thoroughly modern countywide system with three locations and a very successful Outreach Department.  This ranking clearly indicates that the people of Kenton County value and use their libraries. The Board, staff and volunteers could not be more pleased with this recognition.”
 
The LJ Index is a national rating system designed to recognize and promote America’s public libraries, to help improve the pool of national library statistics, and to encourage library self-evaluation.
 
More information on the Library Journal’s Star Ranking Index can be found at this website.

 


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