The Seattle Public Library Receives Highest Five-Star Rating for Ninth Consecutive Year
release date: February 13, 2019
Seattle residents enjoy some of the best library services in the nation. For the ninth consecutive year, The Seattle Public Library was awarded the highest five-star rating by Library Journal’s 2018 Index of Public Library Service.
“The people of Seattle clearly love their libraries and use them heavily,” said Executive Director and Chief Librarian Marcellus Turner. "We work hard to provide resources and services that meet the needs and expectations of the residents of our city. Our staff's commitment to providing exceptional service is what makes us a top library system.”
In 2018, more than 330,000 children, teens and adults attended over 10,000 education classes, workshops and author programs.
Ratings for the Library Journal's Index of Public Library Service are determined by four key library service statistics: in-person library visits, materials checked out, program attendance and public internet computer use. Out of the 7,361 libraries rated, only 257 libraries nationwide received ratings of three, four or five stars. The Seattle Public Library was one of only five similarly-sized libraries in the nation that received a five-star rating. The other five-star libraries include the King County library and three libraries in Ohio.
Library Journal is the leading journal of the library profession. 2018’s ratings were based on 2016 data that libraries reported to the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information, visit lj.libraryjournal.com.