Vernon Area Library honored by magazine

The Vernon Area Public Library was counted among America’s Star Libraries for 2013 by the Library Journal.

This distinction ranks Vernon Area Public Library among the top 30 libraries nationwide with a similar annual budget, and the top 3.5-percent of libraries in the U.S. overall.

The Library Journal’s annual index of Public Library Service measures the levels of library service delivery relative to peer libraries nationally.

The measurement of public use comprises the full range of library services, including per capita circulation, patron visits, program attendance and public Internet access. More than 7,500 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 — the “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.

“We are honored to receive this national recognition. We are fortunate to serve a community that supports our public library, and to have a board of library trustees who is committed to providing the best library services to the community,” said library Director Cynthia Fuerst.

“It is wonderful for our staff’s dedication and hard work to be recognized nationally.”

The 2013 Star Library ratings are based on 2011 data, and so they do not reflect the increases in usership recorded in 2013 following a significant space renovation project at the library.

The full list of 263 ranked libraries, detailed explanation of the Index measurements, and information about trends are available online at libraryjournal.com.