Library of the Year Runner Up 2004

Second year in a row for FPL

“The judges were thrilled by how much great service the librarians and staff at Fayetteville PL have been able to give while they build what promises to be an exciting new building. It is truly innovative, model service. We look forward to seeing what they do next.”
Rebecca Miller, Senior Editor,
Library Journal

The Fayetteville Public Library has been named one of the nation’s best libraries by the Gale Group/Library Journal in its Library of the Year 2004 awards. This marks the second straight year that FPL has been chosen as a runner-up for the award, one of the country’s most prestigious. The announcement was made in the June 15 issue of the Library Journal.

The Library of the Year Award honors the library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding community service, creativity and innovation in programming, a dramatic increase in library usage, and leadership in creating programs that can be emulated by other libraries.

“We are pleased to be the runner-up for this coveted award,” said Louise Schaper, FPL Executive Director. “While we have far fewer resources than the winning library and the other runner-up, we have the will, creativity and commitment to make our resources deliver the punch expected of an education-focused college town community.”

Usage of FPL has skyrocketed since 1997. By the end of 2003, check-outs were up 138% to 644,000, while the number of cardholders had grown 140% to over 38,000. Program attendance was up 103% to 29,000, with children continuing to make up the majority. The 2004 Library of the Year award went jointly to the San Jose Public Library and San Jose State University Library. The only other library to receive special mention was the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.

The Fayetteville Public Library has been named one of the nation’s best libraries by the Gale Group/Library Journal in its Library of the Year 2004 awards. This marks the second straight year that FPL has been chosen as a runner-up for the award, one of the country’s most prestigious. The announcement was made in the June 15 issue of the Library Journal.

The Library of the Year Award honors the library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding community service, creativity and innovation in programming, a dramatic increase in library usage, and leadership in creating programs that can be emulated by other libraries.

“We are pleased to be the runner-up for this coveted award,” said Louise Schaper, FPL Executive Director. “While we have far fewer resources than the winning library and the other runner-up, we have the will, creativity and commitment to make our resources deliver the punch expected of an education-focused college town community.”

The 2004 Library of the Year award went jointly to the San Jose Public Library and San Jose State University Library. The only other library to receive special mention was the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.