Heights Libraries Among Nation's Best

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — For nine straight years, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Library System has been recognized as one of the nation's best library systems by the Library Journal’s Index of Public Library Service. The CHUH Libraries again receive a five-star rating this year, the highest possible rating for a U.S. library.

“On any given day, at any branch, you’ll find people with a wide variety of needs being satisfied: Internet access to apply for jobs or benefits, books and early literacy information for their little ones, a free computer class to help them keep their job skills fresh, or an interesting program that gives them something to think about," says Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin.

The Library Journal's Index of Public Library Service categorizes libraries by yearly expenditures. The journal then rates systems on five criteria: circulation, visits, program attendance, Internet terminal usage at public computer and eCirc (eMedia like eBooks).

This year, the Heights Libraries was averaging about 29 circulated items per resident. The system was averaging about 17 visits per capita, program attendance averaged 1.2 per capita and public computer usage was 4.8 per capita.

“This shows what we’ve always known: people in our community are using the library more than ever,” says Levin. “For many customers we’re that ‘third place,’ the place besides work and home where they like to be. We are always busy, and I don’t see that trend reversing anytime soon.”

Ohio and Cuyahoga County both did well in the Library Journal report. Cleveland Public Library, the Cuyahoga County Library System and Westlake's Porter Public Library all received five-star ratings.

The Buckeye State also had, at worst, the second best library system in the nation, behind only New York State. Ohio had 25 star-rated library systems. New York had 31.

Library Journal is a trade journal that reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and has a nation-wide circulation of 100,000.The entire report on America’s star libraries can be found at Library Journal’s website, lj.libraryjournal.com.

Photo from Heights Libraries