October American Libraries to feature Great American Public Libraries rankings

Contact: George Eberhart


312-280-1398

For Immediate Release


September 27, 2002

October American Libraries to feature "Great American Public Libraries" rankings

American Libraries will publish next month another round of public library rankings, "Great American Public Libraries: The 2002 HAPLR Rankings" by Thomas J. Hennen Jr., based on the latest data from the Federal-State Cooperative System (FSCS).

Ten libraries topping the list of 100 great American libraries are:

  • Denver Public Library
  • Santa Clara County Library, San Jose, Calif.
  • Naperville (Ill.) Public Libraries
  • Lakewood (Ohio) Public Library
  • Washington-Centerville (Ohio) Public Library
  • North Canton (Ohio) Public Library
  • Hartford City (Ind.) Public Library
  • Falconer (N.Y.) Public Library
  • South Whitley-Cleveland Township (Ind.) Public Library
  • Bedford Park (Ill.) Public Library District

The five states with the highest average rankings for their libraries are Ohio, Indiana, Utah, Oregon and Washington.

Hennen's complete American Public Library Rating index (HAPLR) will appear in the October issue of
American Libraries, which is mailed to subscribers September 30. The ratings also will be posted on the
American Libraries Web site.

Such FSCS statistical data as cost per circulation, visits per capita and funding per capita are tabulated to produce the HAPLR index ratings. Although Hennen warns that there is more to quality library service than the HAPLR index rankings, he says he hopes his work fills a need for library and information service accountability in much the same way that listings of top-500 corporations do in business.

Hennen's last round of rankings appeared in
American Libraries' November 2000 issue. The current edition of the scores is nearly one year overdue because of delays by FSCS in posting the data.

"The Hennen rankings reward and validate the hard work that librarians do to make their libraries central to the quality of life in their communities," said
American Libraries Editor Leonard Kniffel said. "I'm pleased to be able to present them in
American Libraries."

The American Library Association (ALA) does not contribute to nor take a position on the HAPLR rankings.