Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Two county libraries made the Hennen's American Public Library Ratings list again this year.
Bell Memorial Library in Mentone has been ranked first among 1,308 other libraries serving the same population.
Warsaw Community Public Library moved up from 10th to fourth after being placed in a higher population category.
Both librarians credit their communities' support for their continuing appearance on the HAPLR index.
"Our success in all areas shows how the community values the services provided by the library," said WCPL director Ann Zydek. "It's pretty amazing we've made the top 10 in our population category three years out of six, the last two years being in a larger (25,000 to 49,999) population group."
Director Lorna Kline at the Bell Library echoed that sentiment. "Being ranked No. 1 two years in a row tells what kind of community we have. We're busy as bees here."
The little library on the corner of Broadway and Ind. 25 plans to become busier, too.
Three more public computers will be joining the current three; there are 21 Book Buddies kits available for circulation (provided by a Dekko Foundation grant); and, according to Klein, children's librarian Tara Bradley say she's already out of space in the new facility.
"My thing is getting people in and to keep them coming and going," Kline said. "I still get excited when new books and magazines come in. I have a staff that not only does their work, they really care about everybody."
Zydek said WCPL's patrons benefit from the one-on-one interaction with staff members.
"It's such an honor to make the HAPLR index. Indiana was ranked fourth in the country, too, and that tells a lot about the local and state level of support," she said.
Eight Indiana libraries appeared in HAPLR's 10 population categories.
Zydek said the library staff doesn't set out to meet the standards set by HAPLR, although she appreciates that the index inadvertently sets minimum standards for all libraries.
HAPLR is the brainchild of Thomas J. Hennen Jr. Hennen's staff relies on the latest data from more than 9,000 libraries sent annually to the Federal State Cooperative Service.
Libraries are rated, scored and ranked on 15 input and output measures. The focus is on circulation, staffing, materials, reference service and funding levels. The index does not include data on audio and video collections, electronic use or Internet service, or interlibrary loan among other items that could have been calculated from the FSCS data.
