XENIA — Greene County Public Library recently received a three-star rating by Library Journal as part of the Index of Public Library Service.
For the last 12 years the Library Journal has spotlighted “the best of the best across America” through star ratings, a library release said. The publication determines a library’s rating by measuring total circulation, circulation of electronic materials, library visits, program attendance, and public internet computer use. WiFi sessions were added to the factors used to rate libraries this year.
Out of the 6,333 U.S. public libraries rated in Library Journal’s Index, 261 received a star rating this year, including Greene County Public Library, which has seven locations: Beavercreek Community Library, Cedarville Community Library, Fairborn Community Library, Jamestown Community Library, Winters-Bellbrook Community Library, Yellow Springs Community Library and the Xenia Community Library.
Ashley Eveland, library clerk at the Xenia location, said she was excited to hear about the rating.
“We always try to give our best customer service to everyone and make sure everyone has a good time,” she said. “I think the Xenia Library is pretty special because we offer services to a diverse group of people.”
Eveland, who has been at the library for 15 years, said every day is busy.
“There’s so many different things you can do here now — get on the computer to look for jobs, check out books for school, create projects in the maker space, look up your genealogy,” she said. “I love interacting with the patrons and seeing the regulars and talking to them about what they’re checking out and reading and watching.”
Greene County Public Library Executive Director Karl Colón said he was grateful not only for the recognition, but also for the support the library receives from the public.
“We are lucky to have a strong community who loves the library and funding systems that recognize the value a library adds to a community,” Colón said. “We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with so many of our neighbors as a star library. One of the many reasons Ohio is great is because of its strong libraries.”
Locally, Dayton Metro Library, which occupies a different budget category from Greene County, also received three stars. In smaller budget categories, Wright Memorial Public Library and Washington-Centerville Public Library received four- and five-star ratings respectively.
Ohio was second only to New York in terms of overall star libraries.
A full listing of Library Journal’s star libraries plus rating criteria and classifications can be found at libraryjournal.com.
