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IMCPL Receives Recognition as a Leader Among America's Urban Libraries

Library News & Announcements RSS Feed October 21, 2005

Once again the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library has placed among the top-rated largest library systems in the United States, according to a recent industry ratings survey that defines excellence in public library service.

The 2005 Hennen American Public Library Ratings survey, announced in the October issue of American Libraries magazine, measures factors that determine the quality of library service within a community, including such per capita indicators as circulation of materials, volumes owned, expenditures on materials, patron visits and reference assistance. This latest ratings edition includes data on the use of electronic resources in public libraries.

IMCPL maintained its sixth place ranking from 2004 while improving its overall ratings score by nine points. The Library has consistently ranked in the top ten among the largest 76 public libraries since the survey’s inception in 1999.

“This is further indication that IMCPL continues to be one of the best-managed library systems in the country,” said Louis Mahern, President of the IMCPL Board of Trustees. “It also demonstrates the value we place on providing our patrons with the best in services from the Library’s professional and dedicated staff, which is the real hallmark of what a public library does,” added Mahern.

IMCPL set a record with over 5.1 million patron visits in 2004, drawing more attendance than all major Indianapolis sporting and cultural events combined. Its book and materials collection was enhanced to provide more materials in popular formats. In addition, greater efficiencies in service, such as the installation of self-check units at branch libraries, allowed staff to devote more time to meeting individual patron needs.

The HAPLR survey is administered by Thomas J. Hennen, Jr., Director of the Waukesha County, Wisconsin Federated Library System.

Leading this year’s survey are public library systems in Columbus, Ohio; Multnomah County, Oregon (Portland, OR); Denver, Colorado; Cuyahoga County, Ohio (Cleveland, OH); and Baltimore County, Maryland (Baltimore, MD).

Overall, Indiana public libraries ranked fourth nationally, behind those in Ohio, Utah and Oregon.

For more information on this year’s HAPLR rankings, visit the Hennen website at http://www.haplr-index.com/.