Elmhurst Library Receives Five-Star Rating

ELMHURST, IL – For the second year in a row, Elmhurst Public Library has received a five-star rating in Library Journal’s annual national review of public libraries. The library said this is the ninth year it has received a star rating.

According to the library, a total of 7,361 public libraries were rated nationwide and only 257 qualified as star libraries. In Illinois, 21 libraries received star ratings, but only three earned the distinction of receiving a five-star rating: Elmhurst Public Library, Skokie Public Library and Oak Park Public Library.

"Providing resources, services, and amenities that best reflect the needs and values of our community is our priority," Library Director Mary Beth Harper said in a release. "To be recognized as a five-star Library for the second year in a row is truly an honor. The strong support we have from the Elmhurst community and the Library Board, coupled with the smart, forward-looking EPL staff is what makes the Library a destination for the entire community to create, connect, and explore.”

The library said Library Journal reviews public library data reported to the government—visits, checkouts, program attendance, digital materials, and public computer use per capita—and ranks the best performing libraries within budget categories. Elmhurst Public Library placed in the top ten nationwide and 1st in Illinois in the $5-9.9M category, with notably high visits and checkouts per capita.

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