Spotlight of the Month

Library Journal Recognizes Broward County Library as a
"2009 All STAR Library"

Broward County Library was named a 2009 All STAR Library by Library Journal, one of only eight All STAR Libraries in the Southeastern United States. This new national ranking of public libraries, the LJ Index of Public Service, covers all U.S. public libraries with total expenditures of $10,000 or more that serve populations of at least 1,000. The index rates libraries on items per capita, visits, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet computer uses. Libraries are then evaluated on each service indicator as compared to other libraries with the same operating expenditures.

“It is an honor to be recognized for our achievement and success in providing great library service to the community,” says Robert E. Cannon, Broward County Library Director. “Even in a time of economic hardship, we have been able to maintain our high standards of excellence and offer our customers access to a wide and comprehensive range of resources that are not available anywhere else.”

In Fiscal Year 2008, Broward County Library’s 37 locations received more than 10.4 million visits from customers. Additionally, circulation of library materials, including best-selling books, DVDs, music CDs and audiobooks, increased from 9,265,195 in Fiscal Year 2007 to 10,376,818 items in FY2008. The usage of library materials in the libraries was on the rise as well, with more than 2,391,765 items used in library locations countywide.

The use of public computers at Broward County libraries also climbed. Thousands of computers with free Internet access are available through the library, with more than three million customers logging on at the library during Fiscal Year 2008. Computer classes were also extremely popular, with over 500,000 adults attending free classes to learn valuable skills such basic computer literacy, word processing and other software programs as well as Internet and e-mail usage and more advanced software programs. Many libraries offer special computer classes for children and teens as well as free one-on-one sessions designed to help customers with specific projects, tasks or problems. Classes in other languages, including Spanish and Haitian Creole, are available in many locations.

Library Journal, the oldest and most respected publication in the field of library science, created the new LJ Index of Public Service to identify and rank our country’s libraries in a fair and impartial method. Qualifying libraries must provide statistics for the four per-capita service indicators (library visits, circulation, program attendance and public Internet computer use) before being considered for ranking.

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