Public Library of the Year: Arnett Branch, Rochester Public Library
Nominations are in and the winners of this year’s RRLC* Library of the Year contest have just been announced! Library advocates will be proud to learn that a record 1,448 people told the RRLC how much they love their library! These weren’t just one liners either. Instead people wrote short paragraphs (limited to 300 words) about what their library meant to them.
The statistics are impressive: 36 public libraries participated, with 1,007 nominations. This year’s judges were Todd Butler, CEO of the Ad Council of Rochester, Geoff Kirkpatrick, President of the New York Library Association and Director of Bethlehem, NY Public Library, and Debby Emerson, President-elect of NYLA and Executive Director of the Central NY Library Resources Council.
Of the Arnett Branch they said: “This was a difficult choice as there were so many positive reviews of so many different libraries. But what makes the Arnett Branch stand out is that the people in its community see it as integral to the community and a critical part of the heart of the 19th ward. Nominators list many examples of how the library and its staff are out and about in the community and how they go above and beyond the normal.”
One of the many examples of nominations (it was so hard to pick just one!) said:
“This is truly a neighborhood library, with outreach to the diverse population in our corner of the city. There are storytimes, homework help, Lego club, a teen center, live music events, computer resources, literacy volunteers, and of course, books to read, reference help, DVDs and Music. Most of all, there is a staff of helpful and welcoming librarians. The library even has a table at our local farmer’s market and Square Fair. Over the twenty-plus years I have lived in this neighborhood, I have never seen the Library more vital and active and utilized. Did I mention it’s a really small library? Size is no problem.”
Read all of their winning entries!
Congratulations to the Arnett Branch, Rochester Public Library, Bruce Tehan, Branch Manager, and all the staff!
*The Rochester Regional Library Council is a multi-type library network serving libraries and library systems in the five-county Rochester region – Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne and Wyoming counties. RRLC is a member of the NY 3Rs Association, Inc. which is comprised of the nine regional library councils in the state of New York
