Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
Fountaindale Public Library District achieved high regards from two respected institutions, which put them as one of just 257 libraries across the nation to receive a star rating.
“It means a lot to our staff because we have all worked so hard,” said Melissa Bradley, Communications Manager. “Our motto is to surprise and delight our attendance, and to be ranked up there with the best of the best really is something special.”
The rankings cover 7,361 public libraries from across the United States and broke the libraries into nine different brackets based on budget expenditures.
Fountaindale was grouped in the $5–$9.9 million bracket.
The rankings were based on circulation of materials per capita, visits per capita, program attendance per capita and Internet terminal uses per capita.
The library’s three-star rating was a result of its overall score as compared to other libraries in its bracket.
Fountaindale’s strongest showing came in program attendance per capita, placing 10th out of the 220 libraries in its bracket.
This library, which has been around for 52 years, has a collection of nearly 350,000 items, a state-of-the-art digital media studio and a variety of programs, services and resources.
With Fountaindale receiving a star ranking, they were one of very few to receive the honor.
Ratings of three, four and five stars were disseminated to the libraries that received the honors, with Fountaindale receiving a three.
“Only 21 libraries in Illinois were named star libraries which is pretty incredible,” said Paul Mills Executive Director. “There’s about 500 or 600 public libraries in the state of Illinois, so for us to be named with those other libraries was very special to all of us.”
The library received more good news when they were informed that Standard & Poor’s (S & P) Global Ratings assigned its ‘AA’ long-term rating to Fountaindale’s series 2018 general obligation (GO) refunding library bonds.
Proceeds will be used to refund and refinance a portion of the district series 2009 GO library building bonds for savings for taxpayers.
The refinancing is the first step in a larger plan to lower the taxes for the voter approved building bonds over the long term.
“10 years ago, the voters approved the building of our new library where bonds were sold after voter approval,” Mills said. “The ‘AA’ rating is one of the highest ratings a library district in Illinois have received, that enabled us to save taxpayers money on the refinancing.”
Both Bradley and Mills also said that in order to receive the accolade Fountaindale did, they needed to connect with the community as well as have structure from top to bottom.
“Books, movies, programs, classes and how your space is designed are just some of the many things that go into running a successful library,” Mills said. “We want to make it a welcoming environment, and for our attendees to know that we take our jobs seriously, we want to make it a pleasurable experience when coming into Fountaindale and with the help of our wonderful staff top to bottom that’s why we aim for, everyone is wonderful here.”
With the recent success of Fountaindale, both Bradley and Mills are pleased with the recognition, but both know there is a lot more work to be done.
“Our next goal in mind is to start looking for a new strategic plan,” Bradley said. “We started a five-year strategic plan back in 2013, so we’re just finishing all the goals from that, but pretty soon here we will be looking for another plan to carry us over for the next five years.”