By Heather Willard
The Pueblo Chieftain
Library lovers, there is another reason to continue supporting the Pueblo City-County Library District.
For the first time, the district has earned the title of Five Star Library for its work in 2020, a distinction awarded by the Library Journal. Although the library has been awarded distinctions in the star library program previously, this is the first time in five years of consecutive years of being in the program that the district has received a five star distinction.
Ann Boyden, marketing manager for the Pueblo City-County Library District, noted the library staff worked hard during 2020 to increase digital offerings to the community, especially by providing programming through virtual methods, such as livestreams on Facebook and YouTube. The library has also offered hotspots, allowing for community members to access the internet despite lack of internet access, and counted more connections to the Wi-Fi offered at all library locations.
“Because this was an odd year compared to how we normally do business, and due to health restrictions, we saw a huge increase in Wi-Fi connections,” Boyden said. “The hotspots played a huge part in that.”
The Library Journal changed the metrics for which it rates libraries this year, adding a seventh metric of successful retrievals of electronic information to the long-standing metrics of physical circulation, circulation of electronic materials, library visits, program attendance, public internet computer use and Wi-Fi sessions.
“We were still able to reach out to the community, even though they were unable to come into the buildings,” Boyden said, noting that craft programs, read-aloud events and other staples of library programming were successfully shifted to virtual formats.
“It is quite an honor to be ranked with other peer libraries — it just goes to show the strength of our staff and how much we are valued in the community," Boyden said.
There are 11 libraries in Colorado that were given star library distinctions, and only 85 across the country were awarded five-star distinctions.
Moving forward, the library staff plans to retain the virtual programming methodology and implement a hybrid of in-person and virtual programming as COVID-19 health restrictions begin to lift.
“We are so grateful that the community continues to support us,” Boyden said.
“Especially now that our buildings haven’t been opened, we’re just glad to still see support from Pueblo and the surrounding communities we serve.”
Across the seven measured metrics, PCCLD rated highest in program attendance and Wi-Fi usage.
To receive an index score, a library must have a legal service area population of at least 1,000, spend at least $10,000 annually and report all of the data required to calculate its score. PCCLD is placed in a nationwide category of libraries that have an annual budget ranging from $10 mill to $29.9 million.
Chieftain reporter Heather Willard can be reached at hwillard@chieftain.com.
Story courtesy of The Pueblo Chieftain
The Pueblo Chieftain
Library lovers, there is another reason to continue supporting the Pueblo City-County Library District.
For the first time, the district has earned the title of Five Star Library for its work in 2020, a distinction awarded by the Library Journal. Although the library has been awarded distinctions in the star library program previously, this is the first time in five years of consecutive years of being in the program that the district has received a five star distinction.
Ann Boyden, marketing manager for the Pueblo City-County Library District, noted the library staff worked hard during 2020 to increase digital offerings to the community, especially by providing programming through virtual methods, such as livestreams on Facebook and YouTube. The library has also offered hotspots, allowing for community members to access the internet despite lack of internet access, and counted more connections to the Wi-Fi offered at all library locations.
“Because this was an odd year compared to how we normally do business, and due to health restrictions, we saw a huge increase in Wi-Fi connections,” Boyden said. “The hotspots played a huge part in that.”
The Library Journal changed the metrics for which it rates libraries this year, adding a seventh metric of successful retrievals of electronic information to the long-standing metrics of physical circulation, circulation of electronic materials, library visits, program attendance, public internet computer use and Wi-Fi sessions.
“We were still able to reach out to the community, even though they were unable to come into the buildings,” Boyden said, noting that craft programs, read-aloud events and other staples of library programming were successfully shifted to virtual formats.
“It is quite an honor to be ranked with other peer libraries — it just goes to show the strength of our staff and how much we are valued in the community," Boyden said.
There are 11 libraries in Colorado that were given star library distinctions, and only 85 across the country were awarded five-star distinctions.
Moving forward, the library staff plans to retain the virtual programming methodology and implement a hybrid of in-person and virtual programming as COVID-19 health restrictions begin to lift.
“We are so grateful that the community continues to support us,” Boyden said.
“Especially now that our buildings haven’t been opened, we’re just glad to still see support from Pueblo and the surrounding communities we serve.”
Across the seven measured metrics, PCCLD rated highest in program attendance and Wi-Fi usage.
To receive an index score, a library must have a legal service area population of at least 1,000, spend at least $10,000 annually and report all of the data required to calculate its score. PCCLD is placed in a nationwide category of libraries that have an annual budget ranging from $10 mill to $29.9 million.
Chieftain reporter Heather Willard can be reached at hwillard@chieftain.com.
Story courtesy of The Pueblo Chieftain