America's Star Libraries, 2010: Who's In, Who's Out
LJ Index of Public Library Service, 2010 - America's Star Libraries - best libraries - top-rated libraries By Ray Lyons & Keith Curry Lance Oct 1, 2010
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This round of the LJ Index of Public Library Service is based on 2008 data reported by public libraries to their state library agencies and compiled nationally by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The LJ Index 2010 gives five, four, or three stars to the top libraries rated. This year, 63 libraries received their first star ratings, with a total of 258 receiving stars. In addition, 139 more public libraries were given LJ Index scores this round for a total of 7,407, up from 7,268 in the LJ Index 2009, Round Two (LJ 11/15/09) (see table at right).
There were modest gains in the number of libraries in most of the nine expenditure categories (see table page opposite), but the bulk came in the $1 million–$4.9 million category, with 73 more libraries. That trend did not hold, however, for the $50,000–$99,999 and $200,000–$399,999 categories, which lost about 25 libraries each. As in the prior round, the overall difference is owing to a net gain in the number of scored libraries and a rise in the number of libraries reporting all four LJ Index per capita statistics. Another factor: libraries moving from one expenditure category to another as budgets shifted.
NEW STARS
Some of the new star libraries were unrated in the last round because they had unreported 2007 data. These newly recognized libraries include
Dry Point Township Library, Cowden, IL; Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta, ME; Battle Creek Public Library, NE; Sheldon Public Library, IA; Bee Cave Public Library, TX; Sanibel Public Library, FL; Ligonier Public Library, IN; Birmingham Public Library, AL; Lower Merion Library System, Ardmore, PA; and bigger urban systems such as the San Francisco Public Library and Denver Public Library.
While the overall representation of states among the star libraries remains similar to the prior edition, there are some notable differences (see the current state-by-state breakdown at www.libraryjournal.com/ljindex2010). Both Arkansas and Louisiana can boast their first star libraries—Gravette Public Library, AR, and Ouachita Parish Public Library, Monroe, LA! Illinois added a remarkable five new star libraries to its roster. New York lost two star libraries, while Ohio gained three, putting Ohio at the top of the state-by-state count.
Some libraries did receive lower scores or fewer stars than in the LJ Index 2009, Round Two ratings. However, a library's lower index score does not mean the library's actual performance in its community declined. Score changes can be a result of statistics that went down due to changing library priorities, or the stiffer competition that additional libraries bring to the ratings, or both.
LJ INDEX BASICS
LJ Index scores are based on four per capita service outputs: library visits, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet computer use. These four measures are closely related to one another statistically. By definition, service outputs don't measure quality, value, excellence, or relevance of services to the community.
A library's LJ Index score is based on the relationship among its four statistics and the averages of those statistics among its peers based 
on total operating expenditures. Because we use only four statistics, a very high value on one or more statistics can compensate for lower values on other statistics. This "sensitivity" of the LJ Index is intended to encourage both the identification of exceptional levels of specific services as well as thoughtful review of the validity and reliability of local data reports.
To be scored on the LJ Index, a library must meet four criteria: 1) match the IMLS definition of a public library; 2) serve a population of at least 1000; 3) have total operating expenditures of at least $10,000; and 4) report all four of the service outputs on which the LJ Index is based. Any issues with data accuracy or completeness should be directed to local libraries and/or their state library agencies.
LJ Index ratings for all the included libraries and the data on which they are based are readily available via the LJ Index homepage at www.libraryjournal.com/ljindex2010. In addition to these data, national and state rankings and national percentiles may be accessed and analyzed graphically and interactively by those with access to Bibliostat Connect, which provides the value-added benefit for customized analyses by linking via LJ Index data to other data from IMLS, the Public Library Data Service, state library agencies, and the U.S. Census.
