Brumback receives national recognition

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Although it’s played a starring role in Van Wert County during the 110 years since its founding in 1901 as the nation’s first public county library, Brumback Library recently received some national recognition as well.

The local library was recently identified by Library Journal as one of America’s Star Libraries. Based on a formula that includes total library visits, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet usage, the 2011 Library Journal Index of Public Library Service recognized 262 star libraries out of a total of 7,513 public libraries throughout the country.

Each of the performance indicators is calculated using per capita rates. Based on total operating expenditures, the indicators offer a measurement of each library’s service to its community in comparison to similar libraries.

“It was a complete surprise to us,” said Library Director John Carr of the national honor. “We had no idea until we were notified.”

Library Journal, the oldest and one of the most prestigious library publications, noted that the Brumback Library ranks 26th in the nation and sixth in Ohio in comparison to libraries with similar budgets and funding levels.

“I think the criteria they use, in terms of your total circulation, the number of library visits you have per year, public access to Internet terminals and its usage, I think those have all been statistically very high here at the library,” Carr said, noting that the main library and its five rural branches had a circulation of 670,000 items in 2010.

“I think that when Library Journal looks at libraries, I think they looked at the library here and realized it’s well-used and well-loved,” he added.

As a state, Ohio ranked second among the 50 states in the number of star libraries for 2011, with 37 libraries, just two behind No. 1 New York’s 39 star libraries.

“Ohio, statistically, has always led the field, so to speak, in public library service,” Carr said. “I think a lot of it has to do with funding; historically, Ohio has done very well in funding its libraries, but I also think that people in Ohio look at their libraries a little differently than some other states. They certainly utilize them more often.”

Carr said the state has a history of state funding that goes back to the 1930s, with individual Ohio libraries implementing technological improvements, whether it’s wireless services, e-books – even catalog circulation systems — ahead of most other states. “I think Ohio libraries have been in the forefront in many ways,” he added.

Like Hennen’s American Public Ratings Index, a resource that has consistently counted Brumback Library in the top 8-10 percent nationally for public libraries its size and service level, Library Journal’s fourth national rating serves as a report card of sorts. It also affirms and validates the resources, services, and programming efforts that Van Wert County’s center of lifelong learning offers to patrons of all ages.

On a larger scale, Francine Fialkoff, Library Journal’s editor-in-chief, states: “the explosion of library use throughout the country firmly reinforces the belief that libraries are more important than ever. Based on data from the Institute of Museum and Library Services that was compiled by Keith Curry Lance and Ray Lyons, the statistics in this report confirm the powerful impact of public libraries as resources for education, entertainment, and information.”

Carr said that, while the last decade has been a challenge to maintain services because of state funding cuts and the more recent economic downturn, local residents have stepped up their financial support through levies and other aid.

“I think we have been blessed here in Van Wert County because the people of Van Wert County certainly have supported the library,” Carr said, noting that the original library levy sought in 2005 passed by approximately 75 percent, with the renewal vote increasing to nearly 82 percent.

“When you look at the numbers of people that have library cards in Van Wert County and use them and the overall circulation, that speaks volumes,” he added.

Although Carr said the library has had to do more with less, due to state funding cuts, he added, “we are so pleased that people use the facility and appreciate the services and resources we have to offer.”