Naperville Public Library receives five-star rating from Library Journal

The Naperville Public Library is honored to once again receive a five-star rating from the Library Journal.

Now in its 12th edition, the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service rates U.S. public libraries based on selected per capita output measures. This year, 6,333 public libraries across the country were rated. The library district is one of ten libraries to receive a five-star rating in the $10M-29.9M expenditure range.

"The five-star rating is really special because it signifies that we're a very well-used library per capita," said Executive Director Dave Della Terza. "Our score reflects a community that overwhelmingly uses its library. The library's goal is to make an impact on as many people as we can, and this award is one indication that we're really doing that."

Criteria used to score libraries included population, circulation, e-material circulation, visits, program attendance, public internet computer users and wi-fi sessions. The 2019 index derives from data released by the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences for FY17.

In 2017, Naperville Public Library was one of 13 U.S. public libraries named an "All-Time All-Star" by the Library Journal for earning a five-star rating each year from 2009-2017.

Naperville Public Library prides itself on constantly updating its services to stay on top of the community's needs. After reading the results of a Customer Satisfaction Survey earlier this year, the library responded to feedback by eliminating fees for computer classes, increasing adult programming in the afternoon and upgrading the Wi-Fi speed, among other improvements.

Della Terza also believes that the library's amazing staff and excellent customer service helped contribute to the five-star rating.

"Our services are nothing without dedicated people putting in all of the effort they do," he said. "I'm always impressed with the brilliant ideas staff come up with to help improve our services. We're a five-star library with five-star staff in a five-star community!"