Vernon Area Library receives national recognition

Vernon Area Public Library is counted among America’s Star Libraries for 2018, as announced in Library Journal this week. This distinction ranks the Lincolnshire library among the top 30 libraries nationwide with a similar annual budget and the top 3.5% of libraries in the U.S. overall.

Library Journal’s annual Index of Public Library Service measures the levels of library service delivery relative to peer libraries across the U.S. The measurement of public use includes a range of library services, including circulation, digital checkouts, library visits, program attendance and public Internet access. More than 7,300 public libraries are measured in the annual Index. The resulting rankings are used by the library industry to identify best practices and trends in library use.

Of those, the top performers — "Star Libraries" — are assigned three, four, or five stars, much like Michelin Guide ratings. The result is a short list of public libraries nationwide demonstrating the highest level of engagement with their patrons. Vernon Area Public Library District received a 3-star rating. Locally, Barrington Public Library, Cook Memorial Public Library District (Libertyville), Ela Area Public Library District (Lake Zurich), and Northbrook Public Library also received recognition.

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

The 2018 Star Library ratings are based on statistics from July 2015 through June 2016.

The full list of 257 ranked libraries, detailed explanation of the Index measurements, and information about trends are available online at http://www.libraryjournal.com.