SALT LAKE CITY -- Good news for Utah libraries. According to the 2005 Hennen's American Public Library Rankings Utah ranks number two overall in the top libraries in the United States. Ohio is number one. The data for the 2005 rankings was filed by 9,211 libraries, collected by 50 state libraries and compiled at the national level by the Federal-State Cooperative System. The Salt Lake City Public Library ranks seventh in the nation in populations of 100,000 to 249,999. There are approximately 329 libraries in areas of that size.

The Salt Lake County Public Library is among the top 10 in the more than 500,000 category.

"This is very good news, it confirms that Utah public libraries are cost effective," State Librarian Donna Jones Morris, said.

"The criteria are based on circulation, staff, funding levels and hours of operation. It's a certainty that Utahns value and use their libraries."

Salt Lake County Library System Director Jim Cooper said the rankings are verification that county residents continue to find what they are looking for at our libraries.

"We love these ratings. They are important indicators as to the significant role libraries play in Utah and the nation," Salt Lake Public Library Director Nancy Tessman said.

"It's great to know the numbers of library patrons is on the increase."

cphares@davisclipper.com