From Harford County Public Library:
Library Journal (LJ) announced its star public libraries in the LJ Index of Public Library Service 2010 and Harford County Public Library (HCPL) once again received a 4-star rating. HCPL was only one of 3 public library systems in Maryland (Harford, Carroll, and Montgomery) that received a star rating this year. This award was based on 2008 national data from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The LJ Index scored 7,407 libraries across the country and identified 258 libraries nationwide that are delivering exceptional service. Libraries were grouped by the size of their operating budgets and rated according to four per capita output measures that indicate public service: circulation, library visits, program attendance and public internet usage. A library’s LJ Index score is based on the relationship averages of those statistics among its peers based on total operating expenditures.
“Record breaking circulation was a result of HCPL being able to get materials in the branches by the street date (date a particular product is released for sale to the general public); an emphasis on purchasing popular materials for the collection; and providing a wide array of formats including the new Playaway, the audiobook and player in one,” stated Library Director, Mary Hastler. “We are very pleased to be recognized for a second year in a row for the outstanding service we deliver to the Harford County community.”
For more information and to see the complete list of libraries that received the star rating, go to www.libraryjournal.com/ljindex2010.
Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 210,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of almost 4,700,000. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.
A friend in Belair says
Great for the library. They do more with less every year. The library has less that 18 million to run 11 branches and pay their full and part time staff. That is less than the Sheriff’s office spends on gas for take home cars, extra training and special programs for Edgewood. When you cut libraries in a recession it’s like cutting hospitals during a epidemic the politicians better wake up. Again way to go library keep up the good work.