San Diego County Library System Named Best in the U.S.

Visit the Library Journal website for a full report on the award

The San Diego County Library system, which includes the , has been named the 2012 Gale/Library Journal Library of the Year, topping libraries throughout the nation.

The County library sytem serves 1,091,536 residents over 4,199 square miles, circulation has grown by 300 percent over the last five years, and last year alone, the library offered 22,435 programs, according to the Library Journal website.

The hard work by library staff and volunteers, namely in creating programs like HOME clinics, free, four-hour home forclosure workshops held at several libraries, and used by more than 3,100 families in forclosure trouble, has made the San Diego County Library system a model for the nation.

They are on the edge of technology as well, with RFID quick check outs being used by 90 percent of members, and of course computers available for browsing the Internet and a stable Wi-Fi connection for those with laptops.

The usual, books, magazines, DVDs, CDs and other non-digital items are available, in fact 12.4 million items are in circulation, and events are held daily, like the club.

While libraries in the city of San Diego have faced drastic cuts in their hours of operation, county libraries have flourished in recent years, opening acclaimed new branches in , and Fallbrook.

Visit the Library Journal website for a full report on the award