The Newton County Library System has been ranked the top system in the state by Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings, based on statistics submitted for the Fiscal Year 2009.

 

The ranking is performed by HAPLR, system that ranks libraries on how well they are using financial resources based on the number of people who use the system and the size of the community the library is located in.

 

According to Greg Heid, Director for the Newton County Library, “We are ecstatic. The staff at this library has been working so very hard to give the public the best service and resources that they can offer.”

 

Public libraries across the state are asked to submit statistics annually which will show how many items were checked out, the number of people who used the library, the number of questions answered by the reference desk, the number of people who use the computers and the amount of local funding received, among other things. Information is thensent to the federal government. 

 

Newton County’s library received 616 points out of a possible 1,000. The second highest ranked library in Georgia was Forsyth County in Cumming with 581 points, followed by Flint River Regional in Griffin with 577 points. The lowest scoring library system in the state was Hart County in Hartwell with only 99 points.

 

“I am very proud of the service that the Newton County Library System offers to our population in Newton County,” said Marc Jordan, chairman of the Newton County Library System. “This is official recognition for what we all have come to expect — excellent library service in Newton County.”