LAKEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY

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THANK YOU for making Lakewood Public Library a Top Ten American Library Hennen's American Public Library Ratings. In the 2008 list Lakewood placed number nine in its population category. In 2006 Lakewood ranked number one in its population category, the third number one ranking for Lakewood in seven rankings since 1999. In 2004 and 2005 Lakewood Public Library was ranked number two.

In the 2008 ranking, Lakewood scored 879 and was one of six Ohio libraries in the top ten in the population category. There was no ranking in 2007. Lakewood's 2006 HAPLR score of 956 is matched by only one other library in any population category (two other libraries are very close with scores of 954). Our 2005 ranking was third highest in Ohio of all libraries in all population categories and we tied for 5th nationally in all population categories (over 9,000 libraries ranked). In 2003 Lakewood Public Library was ranked number one among 541 public libraries in the United States serving populations of 50,000-99,000 in Hennen's American Public Library Ratings. In fact, the Library's rating score was highest of all libraries in any population category that year. In 2002 Lakewood Public Library was ranked number one among 523 libraries compared.

Factors include: amount spent on library materials per person; number of library staff members; number of times materials are borrowed; amount of materials checked out per visit; reference questions answered; library materials borrowed each hour and library visits per hour.

DID YOU ALSO KNOW...

Lakewood Public Library is listed as one of the top 10 most cost-effective libraries in the state.

The HAPLR ratings for 2006 were based on 2004 statistics:

Total circulation for 2004 (combining traditional, audiovisual, and electronic transactions) hit 40,490,480—a 25.97% increase over 2003.

Traditional borrowing alone hit 1,936,972 items in 2004—a 1.95% increase from 2003 and an all-time record.

Last year, the staff fielded 1,260,896 reference and directional queries.

Though Lakewood's population stood at 56,646 in 2001, the library boasts 112,907 registered patrons (2004).

552,998 items circulate for every staff member.

In 2004, LPL's 97,076 audiovisual materials circulated 869,482 times.

Our programs, meetings, and classes continue to be popular with over 80,050 attendants. That's 1,093 attendants per staff member.

Children's and Youth Services provided 4,658 activities for Lakewood's children with 58,992 attendees.

Our patrons signed up for 171,221 sessions in the Technology Center to surf the Internet and to use office application and educational software.

Various community groups employed the library's facilities for 1,237 meetings with 15,873 people attending.