Columbiana library wins national acclaim

By D.a. Wilkinson

COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana Public Library has won national recognition for the third year in row.

Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings recently scored the Columbiana library as No. 1 nationally in the 5,000-to-9,999 population category.

The recognition comes as the library is also celebrating its 75th anniversary.

But the library, like all others in Ohio, is awaiting cuts of up to 30 percent in state funding.

Thomas J. Hennen Jr. of Racine, Wis., has been publishing the annual national report on libraries for 10 years. His rating stated that the top two libraries in the nation are the Cuyahoga County Public Library, in first place, and the Columbus Metropolitan Library, in second. Each is in the 500,000 population range.

While the ratings are just out, they reflect 2006 data since states have different fiscal years.

To celebrate the anniversary, the Columbiana library will celebrate with the Magic of Grant from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. today. On Friday, there will be a family concert from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. with Chip Richter.

People really use the Columbiana library, said Carol Cobbs, the library director.

In 2007, the library had its largest circulation of 340,739 items.

Circulation dropped a bit in 2008 when the price of gasoline went up and people decided to stay home, Cobbs said.

However, the library obtained a Wii console that proved very popular.

Hennen and Cobbs said they are seeing people dropping their Internet connection in favor of using library computers for free.

Other people have turned to using the wireless connection at the library instead of paying for their own use.

The library has about 20 employees.

Cobbs is not sure how funding cuts will affect the library.

On Tuesday, there was a steady stream of people of all ages coming and going.

“We appeal to a broad base now,” she said. “That’s very much so reflected in the staff.”

The staff will often recommend a book or other item to a patron based on the patron’s interests.

The library attendance in 2008 was 164,025 people. Circulation for the first seven months of 2009 exceeded the circulation for the same period in 2007 by more than 6,000 items, Cobbs said.

“When the economy is poor, libraries flourish,” she added.

The library in September will offer a “Friendly Reminder” to patrons who have taken out materials and have provided an e-mail address. The library will send out a reminder that the items are due. That will save money for the library and the patron.

wilkinson@vindy.com