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Libraries keep track of more than books

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By Georgia Mergler, Contributing Writer 5:26 PM Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Libraries count everything.

We count how many people visit, how much they check out, how many questions staff answer, how many program attendees and the list goes on and on.

These stats are to libraries what sales figures are to business — our bottom line. They help us measure how accurately our collection is meeting the needs of our patrons, as well as how our programs are meeting patron demands for entertainment and information. And they are a powerful way for us to demonstrate how we provide value for the state and local tax dollars we get.

Year to date, Washington-Centerville Library users have:

• Checked out 2,072,728 books, movies, music, games and more

• Visited the library 742,473 times

• Visited the library’s Web site 330,908 times

• Used the library’s computers 79,876 times

• Asked (and gotten answers to) 180,855 questions.

Library Journal recently announced the second edition of its America’s Star Libraries Rating, which sorts libraries into 5-, 4-, and 3-star categories.

The Washington-Centerville Public Library rated 5 stars. The rating, which compares more than 7200 public libraries across the nation, is based on 2007 data provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

So, what does having a 5 star library mean to you? You can expect to find more than 380,000 items for every age and interest, a knowledgeable staff ready to assist you in finding a good read or an authoritative resource for your personal or business research. You can also expect to find a diverse slate of no-cost events from which to choose and many computers to access the Internet.

For more information, call the Washington-Centerville Library at (937) 433-8091 or visit www.wclibrary.info.

Georgia Mergler is community relations manager of Washington-Centerville Public Library.

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