Arlington Heights Memorial Library is given the highest rating – 5 Stars – in a national ranking called “America’s Star Libraries” released by the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. Only 1.1% of public libraries in the nation were given this distinctive 5-star rating. The top libraries in each category—grouped by operating expenditures—get five-, four-, and three-star ratings. The ratings were determined by four reliable statistics that libraries provide to their states to illustrate how each library is used in these service areas: • How many times a year did the average person take out a book, audiobook, DVD or other item from the library? • How many times did they come to the library? • How many times did they attend a program? • How often did they use a public-access computer? “America’s Star Libraries index is based on the only kind of performance that matters: what services a library delivers to its users,” says Paula Moore, library director of AHML, where she has worked since 1991. “We are very proud to be the only single-facilty library in Illinois to receive the prestigious 5-star rating,” Moore adds. “It’s a tribute to the longstanding commitment of the library board, our outstanding staff, and the residents who value and visit the library. The people of Arlington Heights love their library and have made it the community treasure it is. This rating affirms our passion for providing unparalled customer service and adding value to the lives of our residents.” Other Illinois public libraries also named as 5-star libraries were the Schaumburg Township and Naperville District Libraries, which serve larger populations with their branch library systems. Receving a 4-star rating was Skokie Public Library, and receiving a 3-star rating were the Barrington District and Des Plaines Public Libraries. See the index of all 7,115 national libraries rated. To visit the What's Up at the Library blog homepage, click here.