Columbus Metropolitan Library

Columbus Metropolitan Library
Country USA
Type Public library
Established 1873 (1873)
Location 96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Branches Main Library + 22 branches
Collection
Size 2,160,000 items
Access and use
Circulation 15.7 million
Population served 850,000
Other information
Budget $66 million
Director Patrick Losinski
Staff 800[1]
Website www.columbuslibrary.org

The Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML), located in the capital city of Ohio, began operation in 1873 in the New City Hall in downtown Columbus.[2] This library is one of the most-used library systems in the country and is consistently among the top-ranked large city libraries according to "Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings." Led by Larry D. Black from 1984 to 2002, the redeveloped CML was formally reopened in 1991 by U.S. First Lady Barbara Bush. Excellent customer service was Black's continual objective. CML was rated the No. 1 library system in the nation in 1999, 2005, 2008, and 2010. It has been in the top four every year since 1999 when the rankings were first published in American Libraries magazine, often challenging up-state neighbor Cuyahoga County Public Library for the top spot. [3][4] CML was named Library of the Year by the Library Journal in 2010. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in fiscal year 2005 CML patrons borrowed more than 16.5 million items, made 8.4 million visits to the library and asked nearly 1.2 million reference questions.[5]

The library serves an area of more than 850,000 residents and has a collection of 1,350,000 books and periodicals. In addition, there are 48,000 audiobooks, 48,000 music CDs, as well as 53,000 video items, such as DVDs and Blu-ray discs.[6] In 2006, the library was ranked by Hennen's American Public Library Rating Index as #3 for libraries serving populations of 500,000 or greater.[7] The library is state funded and strongly supported by the citizens of Franklin County which has been shown by their repeated passing of a 2.2-mill property levy which has been in place since 1986.[8] This levy was approved again in 2010 at the increased rate of 2.8-mill, the additional 0.6 mill being needed to replace lost state funding.[9]

The library consists of the Main Library and 22 branches conveniently located in neighborhoods throughout Franklin County. The branches are Canal Winchester, Driving Park, Dublin, Franklinton, Gahanna, Hilliard, Hilltop, Karl Road, Linden, Livingston, Marion-Franklin, Martin Luther King, New Albany, Northern Lights, Northside, Parsons, Reynoldsburg, Shepard, South High, Southeast, Whetstone and Whitehall. CML also jointly operates the Northwest Library in cooperation with Worthington Libraries. Columbus Metropolitan Library is a member of the Central Library Consortium, which enables its 17 member library systems to share a catalog.[10]

Staffing

Staffing at CML consists of 800 employees, of whom 100 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The annual expenditures for the library collection totals $7.97 million. In 2017, CML had 5.8 million visits and loaned out 15.7 million items.[5]

Services

Main Library was built in 1907, Albert Randolph Ross, New York, and Wilbur T. Mills, Columbus, architects[11]

The Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) system aims to inspire reading, share resources and connect people through their numerous programs and activities. Those services target various groups among its diverse patronage. CML provides help for adults with General Educational Development (GED) classes, technology training for basic computer knowledge, adult basic learning classes, an introductory class on the use of Microsoft Word, Job Help Centers, and classes on basic internet skills. To attract young children and adolescent patrons to the library, CML provides Homework Help Centers at all 23 CML locations. There is also help for children who are home schooled. They also have several teen gaming nights and book groups - such the Summer Reading Challenge, "Comic Book Café,"[12] and the Manga & Anime club. Due to the growing population of Hispanics and Somalis, the library has an extensive English as a Second Language (ESL) program at several branch libraries.[13] There is also Spanish reading time and technology classes taught in Spanish.

The Ready for Kindergarten program is for preschoolers and their parents or caregivers. The library coordinates with teachers and schools to provide Ready for Kindergarten Storytimes and Classes. Storytime is also provided to children with special needs.[14] The Lobby Stop program is for senior citizens in retirement apartments. It utilizes a specially designed truck to transport book carts with large print books, DVDs and other materials and set up a temporary library in the common areas. The Book by mail program, which started in 1977, is for the homebound. Large print books and other materials are mailed monthly or bi-monthly through the US postal system.[2]

Innovation

CML first offered its patrons a public computer in 1977 and internet access in 1997. CML now has computers at all library locations. CML is WiFi enabled. CML was rated 3 times as #1 by Hennen's because it continues to put patrons first and continues to stay current on technological advances. In 2004 CML started the program "Know-It-Now", a 24/7 virtual reference service.[15] The "Proactive Reference" approach is another way the library is geared towards maximizing patrons' satisfaction; this approach ends the passivity of the reference librarians by taking the chair away and having the librarians interact with patrons throughout the library.[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Columbus Metropolitan Library turns the page to better serve customers - Smart Business Magazine".
  2. 1 2 "Welcome to www.columbuslibrary.org - www.columbuslibrary.org". www.columbuslibrary.org.
  3. ↑ Phillips, Jeb (2005-10-05). "CHECK IT OUT: COLUMBUS LIBRARY NOTCHES NO. 1 RATING". The Columbus Dispatch. pp. News 01B.
  4. ↑ "HAPLR 100 for 1999 to 2006". Hennen's American Public Library Ratings. 1999–2006. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
  5. 1 2 "NCES data for Columbus Metropolitan Library". Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  6. ↑ "Columbus Metropolitan Library Columbus Ohio". www.ohwy.com.
  7. ↑ "HAPLR 100 for 1999 to 2006". Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ "Central Library Consortium". Central Library Consortium.
  11. ↑ The AIA Guide to Columbus.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ "Columbus, Ohio: The 'everyman' of America". USA Today. 2003-12-17. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  14. ↑ "Outreach - Columbus Metropolitan Library".
  15. ↑
  16. ↑

Further reading

  • Deborah Fallows (October 2014), "Not Your Mother's Library", The Atlantic

Coordinates: 39°57′40″N 82°59′22″W / 39.961238°N 82.989516°W / 39.961238; -82.989516

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