Couldn’t the Library operate more efficiently?
No doubt, every organization could operate more efficiently. However, IMCPL is already one of the most efficiently run library systems in the United States. Based on 2004 data from the Public Library Association, IMCPL is the sixth most efficient among the fifty largest library systems in the nation. In this comparison, efficiency was measured by dividing each library system’s total operating budget by its total circulation. What was impressive about this efficiency comparison was that it came in a year when IMCPL’s circulation was down due to the Central construction project which forces patrons to use the Interim Central facility. In 2005 IMCPL had a total circulation of 12.2 million items. In the last full year at old Central our circulation was more than 13 million. Our numbers and rankings will improve even further once the new expanded Central reopens in 2007. The nationally recognized Hennin Ratings, recently released its 2005 library system rankings. Among library systems with
