Posted October 5, 200519 yr Ohio has the best libraries in the country, according to Thomas Hennen's rankings in the latest issue of American Libraries magazine. Read more here: http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=41637 And here (page 6 of the pdf): http://www.haplr-index.com/AmericanLibraries2005HAPLR_Proof.pdf
November 20, 200618 yr The 2006 report is out now. Ohio kicks ass again! Cleveland's system is ranked #1 in the nation. Columbus is #3 and Cincy is #8. Links, charts, etc.: http://www.haplr-index.com/ratings.html
November 21, 200618 yr Hey you forgot the Middletown Public Library System which ranks 8th in its population category of 100k. This is the third year in the row that Middletown's system has been in the top 10 for that category. Plus, this year they moved up a rank from 9 to 8 :)
November 21, 200618 yr ^I was talking to a librarian at Lebanon Public Library who contends that Middletown's results are skewed because of high circulation numbers in the small West Chester Township branch, but who knows? Middletown does have a great library, I've used it heavily all my life, but I'm not a fan of it's big-box feel; a massive one story block building next to a huge parking lot, it essentially is a big-box, right downtown.
November 24, 200618 yr That's great news for Ohio! :clap: Our 3 biggest cities in the top 10? I hope the state can use this to promote... something.
November 24, 200618 yr I've only been to the suburban libraries... but, whenever my dad waits for me to do something downtown, he goes the the Cincinnati Public Library... so, I guess it must be good! I'll have to go sometime or another!
November 25, 200618 yr I went to the downtown Columbus library today and I was about as impressed as I was with the art museum here. They were only open until 5pm, Cincinnati's closes at 8 or 9. Cincinnati's also has a much better selection of books I think. Im sure they're talking about the system as a whole but I always have to go to the main branches anyway for the kinds of books i'm looking for.
November 25, 200618 yr Cincinnati Library = Better Collection Columbus Library = Better Building "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 26, 200618 yr I went to the downtown Columbus library today and I was about as impressed as I was with the art museum here. They were only open until 5pm, Cincinnati's closes at 8 or 9. Cincinnati's also has a much better selection of books I think. Im sure they're talking about the system as a whole but I always have to go to the main branches anyway for the kinds of books i'm looking for. Also depends as to what you are looking for. Columbus Public has to compete (if you want to call it that) with OSU and the State library for historical documents.
November 26, 200618 yr Can you use Ohio State's library if you're not a student/alumni? Depends on what you mean by use. You can go in and look at and copy material (though you might have to pick up a copy card). You just can't check anything out. Another consideration is that Thompson (Main) Library is closed for renovations, but I'll have to defer to current OSU students as to where everything is being held at.
November 26, 200618 yr You can't even walk into Walter Langsam (At UC) without your bearcat card; stupid in my opinion.
November 26, 200618 yr I'm a big fan of Cincinnati's library system, in part because of the online system they have. You can browse their library, then have any book in the whole system sent to any library you want to pick it up at. I'm assuming this is available in most systems these days - at least I hope so, because it's incredibly convenient.
November 28, 200618 yr Wow, it's nice to be at the top of a list for once. You must mean list other than crime numbers, pop loss, etc :laugh:
November 28, 200618 yr I can't wait to go to Cleveland Public Library over my December vacation. I need to do some geneaolgical research on the Polack's who came over here on the boat. In reality, I'm just looking forward to using a good library again. You have no idea how good your libraries are until you live in a city where they're absolutely crummy.
November 28, 200618 yr I can't wait to go to Cleveland Public Library over my December vacation. I need to do some geneaolgical research on the Polack's who came over here on the boat. In reality, I'm just looking forward to using a good library again. You have no idea how good your libraries are until you live in a city where they're absolutely crummy. They won't let you use the Library of Congress?
November 28, 200618 yr They won't let you use the Library of Congress? Well, sure, but it's a whole 12-block walk from home! All kidding aside, the LOC isn't generally open in the evenings, leaving Saturday as the only time to visit. While that doesn't sound so bad, you can't check anything out unless you're a Member (of Congress).
November 28, 200618 yr They won't let you use the Library of Congress? Well, sure, but it's a whole 12-block walk from home! All kidding aside, the LOC isn't generally open in the evenings, leaving Saturday as the only time to visit. While that doesn't sound so bad, you can't check anything out unless you're a Member (of Congress). Well phoey! So much for the hype that it's for "the people."
November 29, 200618 yr You can't even walk into Walter Langsam (At UC) without your bearcat card; stupid in my opinion. That's just in the evenings though, correct? In fact, it looks like non-students can check out material if they have a public library card at any number of local libraries, if their library is a part of the Greater Cincinnati Library Consortium...I don't really know the details though. http://www.libraries.uc.edu/services/borrow_request/borrowing.pdf Depends on what you mean by use. You can go in and look at and copy material (though you might have to pick up a copy card). You just can't check anything out. But if you are currently in college at a different school, don't forget about using OhioLink to request material from other schools.
November 29, 200618 yr Every time I'd go there (around 2pm) Id have to flash my UCID but I don't know the terms; maybe they can, I don't know.
November 29, 200618 yr Every time I'd go there (around 2pm) Id have to flash my UCID but I don't know the terms; maybe they can, I don't know. They must of changed it then. I think it used to be that you only had to show it after 7pm or something like that.
November 29, 200618 yr Id rather it be the other way around. Let anyone in after 7 because early afternoon is completely packed with students. Impossible to get a computer.
November 29, 200618 yr King Library requires you to swipe between 12 and 7 a.m., but only for saftey's sake. All you have to do is wait for someone to leave however, I've done that once or twice.
November 29, 200618 yr From the 11/28/06 Journal-News: Study aims to prove libraries' value Libraries in Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Clermont counties demonstrate their worth to community in wake of budget cuts; Study finds that $1 equals $3.81 in services. By By Christopher Magan MIDDLETOWN — Facing the possibility of continued budget freezes and cuts, local library directors decided to get together to demonstrate their value to the community. Nine libraries from Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Clermont counties pooled their money to pay $25,000 for an economic benefit study to show residents and lawmakers they're getting a big return on their investment... Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2845 or [email protected]. http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/11/28/hjn112906librarystudy.html
November 30, 200618 yr Apathy has been Ohio's theme since the 60's. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 30, 200618 yr If the librarys here are so good how come Ohioans are so pig-fucking ignorant. Must be the influx of Kentucky migrants bringing us down.
November 30, 200618 yr If the librarys here are so good how come Ohioans are so pig-fucking ignorant Hey, nobody said anything about people USING the libraries....
November 30, 200618 yr ^sorry, but the rankings do take into account how much people do use the libraries.
November 30, 200618 yr I blame the gays. Yeah, we're way to chic to use a public library! I say, let the hetro guys who masterbate, while watching porn, in close proximity to the kids reading area continue to take advantage of Ohio's fine Library systems! :-P http://www.wkyc.com/weblog/carlmonday/2006/05/perverts-paradise.html
November 30, 200618 yr I blame the gays. I blame sprawl. And the fact that we need to coin a better friggin term than "smart growth". A catch phrase is suppose to be catchy, damnit! Oops. Umm what were we talking about? Oh... It would seem like resource allocation for public libraries would go according to the amount of circulation.
November 30, 200618 yr If the librarys here are so good how come Ohioans are so pig-fucking ignorant Sorry that not everyone in Dayton is as smart as you. :roll:
November 30, 200618 yr ^You mean Washington Township! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
December 1, 200618 yr ^I was talking to a librarian at Lebanon Public Library who contends that Middletown's results are skewed because of high circulation numbers in the small West Chester Township branch, but who knows? Middletown does have a great library, I've used it heavily all my life, but I'm not a fan of it's big-box feel; a massive one story block building next to a huge parking lot, it essentially is a big-box, right downtown. How did I know you were going to hate the design of the building LOL. And Lebanon...they are just jealous. I was the library a couple of years ago, and they had a rendering of a proposed expansion, which looked liked it included an a 2-story addition. This has probably been put on hold due to budgets and the need for a larger West Chester library. Yeah, I know West Chester's library has high circulation, but you'd be surprised at the circulation levels of the main branch in Middletown. Plus, circulation is just one of the factors in the rankings. While I've never been to libraries of Ohio's big cities, I have spent a lot of time in the Detroit Public Library's main branch across from Wayne State as well as getting lost in the stacks of the University of Michigan's Graduate Library. I have to admit, I've always preferred the smaller, hometown libraries to these massive structures. Here's an article that appeared at middletownnow.com about the Middletown Public Library, and about its ranking. Middletown Library offers something for everyone By: Glenna Fisher It’s ranked eighth in the nation by area population Looking for a bright spot in Middletown’s public sector? You may not have to look far. The eighth ranked public library of the 329 serving populations of 100,000 to 150,000, according to HAPLR (Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings) is in downtown Middletown. And the library has been climbing – last year it was 9th. Obviously that’s a source of great satisfaction to Director Doug Bean and Assistant Director Judi Girton. More at Middletownnow.com: http://middletownnow.com/index.php?page=View%20Article&id=187
December 1, 200618 yr Middletown does have a great library, I've used it heavily all my life, but I'm not a fan of it's big-box feel; a massive one story block building next to a huge parking lot, it essentially is a big-box, right downtown. How did I know you were going to hate the design of the building LOL. And Lebanon...they are just jealous. Well, Lebanon did add on to their beautiful Carnegie, while Middletown left theirs to decay. :) I am going to have to get some better shots of it sometime, I drove down Curtis last week and the entrance to the lecture hall seemed to be open. The design of Middletown's library isn't that bad, I love the natural light inside and the ample reading areas. It is the site plan that I'm not crazy about. If the building could have been switched with the parking lot, I'd have less objections.
December 1, 200618 yr Cleveland Plain Dealer Wednesday, April 27, 2005 Thomas Suddes Plain Dealer Columnist From downtown Cleveland to deepest Appalachia, Ohio's public libraries are the envy of the United States. But on the apparent theory that there's no failure like success, the General Assembly, with Gov. Bob Taft's connivance, is poised to choke library funding. Ask anyone who moves out of Ohio, especially parents: One of the first things they miss, besides grandparents left behind, are the fantastic libraries - treasure-houses for children, people's universities for adults, workshops for the very brand of "by-the-bootstraps" self-improvement Ohio's Republicans say they want to promote. Thanks to a bipartisan General Assembly consensus reaching back to the 1930s, Ohio public libraries are so good that in the 1990s a big national newspaper reported that Pennsylvanians and West Virginians were flocking to such garden spots as Youngstown and Steubenville so their kids could find materials they needed to do homework. ... More at: http://www.cleveland.com I'm proud to say that Dennis was my uncle and a very close friend.
December 2, 200618 yr Middletown does have a great library, I've used it heavily all my life, but I'm not a fan of it's big-box feel; a massive one story block building next to a huge parking lot, it essentially is a big-box, right downtown. How did I know you were going to hate the design of the building LOL. And Lebanon...they are just jealous. Well, Lebanon did add on to their beautiful Carnegie, while Middletown left theirs to decay. :) I am going to have to get some better shots of it sometime, I drove down Curtis last week and the entrance to the lecture hall seemed to be open. The design of Middletown's library isn't that bad, I love the natural light inside and the ample reading areas. It is the site plan that I'm not crazy about. If the building could have been switched with the parking lot, I'd have less objections. As did Middletown until they ran out of room to add on again. I know what you mean about the parking lot. The smart thing would have been vacating Park Street (the street where the book drop is) and expanding the parking lot that way, while lleaving the land facing first and Broad available for development. It still could happen if downtown revives. The library could make some money off the deal. Could you imagine brownstones facing Broad and First with parking for the library and the homes behind them? Actually, the original plans called for the library to be built on the Plaza on the triangular piece of land that is used for the food court during Middfest. It was also supposed to be designed by Weese to match the style of the city building. The current library was designed by Lorenz+Williams of Dayton.
December 2, 200618 yr As did Middletown until they ran out of room to add on again. They probalby could have made more room, but that was also a different time, when most cities were making those kind of choices. Redeveloping the parking lot sounds great, although the city didn't make the best choice in the style of the new bus depot. Middletown should be proud of their transit system, however.
December 2, 200618 yr I'm late to this discussion, but I just want to say that this is the sort of info that makes UrbanOhio a great site. I knew Cincinnati had a great system, but I never realized that other library systems throughout the state, even in smaller towns and counties, were considered to be as good. Nor did I have any idea that Mr. Republican, Robert A. Taft, was behind a successful program of state funding for libraries. So I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. Cincinnati Library = Better Collection Columbus Library = Better Building I actually really like the look of the Cincinnati Main Library (the original old building, not the new North addition as much). It's one of my favorite modern buildings downtown. I like the indoor space, as well as the odd concrete columns mixed with the exposed brick exterior. My only real complaint with the building is the amount of wasted space on the Vine Street side of the South building and the Walnut Street side of the north building. One other complaint with the Cincinnati Public Library- I dislike their use of the Dewey System. I find the Library of Congress classification system much easier to use and peruse. You can't even walk into Walter Langsam (At UC) without your bearcat card; stupid in my opinion. When I was at UC for a year I was really impressed with their collection. Can't one request a book at UC through Cincinnati Public via interlibrary loan? It's a shame if UC won't even let the general public in their library. I worked at the Georgetown University Library (Lauinger) and we let anyone in, you just had to show some idea and register at the security desk. When visiting friends at Harvard and Columbia I became righteously indignant when I discovered that I wasn't even allowed to enter their hallowed bookholes (a term I use in lieu of the overly Latin and sissy "library"). Anyway, I found that by merely flashing an ID to the desk attendant I could get inside. Maybe that would work at Langsam (interestingly, I'm pretty sure langsam is the German word for boring, or tired). Libraries in Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Clermont counties demonstrate their worth to community in wake of budget cuts; Study finds that $1 equals $3.81 in services. This is great. This is what bothers me most about politicians, particularly those who claim that they "believe in the market" or that they "want to run government like a business". Those guys are always the first to try and shut down services like libraries that provide a ridiculously good return on their investment. Why don't we shut down all the libraries in the state and turn all the buildings into mini-convention halls? Then we can raise the hotel tax by 20% Baby, that'll get a stew on!
December 2, 200618 yr Ohioians don't actually read, we just use the library for video and music rentals.
December 3, 200618 yr One other complaint with the Cincinnati Public Library- I dislike their use of the Dewey System. I find the Library of Congress classification system much easier to use and peruse. It's not just Cincy, just every public library I've been to (Baton Rouge, Memphis, Wayne (Pa), Columbus, Delaware, Marion, Burton, Middlefield, Chardon) all use the Dewey System. The "governmental" libraries (state libraries for Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio; OSU, LSU, Univ of Houston, Rice Univ, Temple Univ) use the LoC system (which I too prefer, and have memorized for my topics). Not sure as to how the division of which libraries use each system came about. :?
October 27, 200816 yr Libraries ranked 10th best in nation http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081027/NEWS01/810270347/1168/NEWS The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is the 10th best big library in the United States, out of 79 in places with populations of 500,000 or more. That's according to Hennen's American Public Library Ratings, which used data on numbers of books, customers and reference questions, among other categories. Columbus' library ranked first. The Cincinnati system includes the main library downtown and 40 branches. The library system also ranked in Hennen's Top 10 in 2005 and 2006.
October 27, 200816 yr How many different ranks are there for libraries. In January of 08 Cleveland's Library system was ranked #1 in the Nation with St.Louis in #2. Cincinnati was ranked 5th in that one with Columbus not even ranking. This last one though has Columbus #1 and Cleveland #2 library system in the nation. "Cincinnati placed 10th among 79 library systems in the over-500,000 population category. Ohio had two more libraries place in the top 10: Columbus at No. 1 and Cleveland at No. 2." http://www.wlwt.com/news/17794920/detail.html Is there any standards for any of these rankings? http://www.ccsu.edu/AMLC07/Library/top10.htm
October 27, 200816 yr How many different ranks are there for libraries. In January of 08 Cleveland's Library system was ranked #1 in the Nation with St.Louis in #2. Cincinnati was ranked 5th in that one with Columbus not even ranking. This last one though has Columbus #1 and Cleveland #2 library system in the nation. Is there any standards for any of these rankings? http://www.ccsu.edu/AMLC07/Library/top10.htm The CUYAHOGA COUNTY library system is ranked No. 2, not the Cleveland public library system. ETA: Here is the entire report, including the rankings. http://www.haplr-index.com/AverageStatewideScores.html
October 27, 200816 yr I just meant the city's ranking as was stated in the article. Either one of those ranking systems though Ohio had 3 in the top ten. One of them had Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus while the other had Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.
October 27, 200816 yr I just meant the city's ranking as was stated in the article. These are two different ranking systems.
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