Submitted by the Lopez Island Library

The Lopez Island Library is thrilled to receive an America’s Star Library award for the 8th year in a row. This year, 7,049 U.S. public libraries were eligible, and only 259 received the Star Library distinction. Three libraries in Washington State were selected for this national award: Seattle Public Library, King County Library System, and the Lopez Island Library.

America’s Star Libraries are selected through the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. Libraries are grouped by total operating expenditures and rated on five per capita measures of service: library visits, circulation, program attendance, public internet terminal use, and electronic circulation. In other words, compared to other libraries with a similar budget, the Lopez Library delivers more services for each person in the community. Every patron visit and circulated book counts.

The Lopez Library’s director Lou Pray, library staff, and library board are honored to receive this distinction. They would like to thank the Friends of the Lopez Island Library, whose book sales and gift shop proceeds fund many of the library’s activities such as author events, lectures, and children’s programming. The Friends’ support enables the library to offer many free and enriching programs. The library would like to thank the volunteers who work the circulation desk and are in many ways the face of the library. Most of all, the library would like to thank the Lopez Island community for showing them every day that libraries matter. Come and see what the Lopez Island Library can do for you!