As we start our research into Lake County libraries, we found some interesting statistics.  From the State of Ohio Library website, we see exactly what the people in the community think of their library.  If you deem it important, we would think that you would at least get a library card.

LC Libraries Registered Borrowers

Let’s compare Lake County with the State of Ohio library districts. The statistics for total registered borrowers in the entire State of Ohio are as follows:

Total Population in the State of Ohio – 11,520,487

Registered Borrowers – All Libraries in the State of Ohio:
Adults                      6,893,725     79.1%
Children                   1,824,613     20.1%
Total                          8,718,338   100.0%
% of population that are registered borrowers – 75.7%

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Please note the number of registered borrowers for Morley Library:
Total Population in their Legal Service Area – 52,404

Registered Borrowers – Morley Library
Adults                 12,349        84.1%
Children                2,333        15.9%
Total                     14,682     100.0%
% of population that are registered borrowers –  28.0% (Yikes!)

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Lake County Libraries State Ranking Based % of Population of Registered Borrowers:
There are 251 library districts in the State of Ohio.

Fairport Harbor                                  36th in the State with 128.1%
Mentor                                                 77th in the State with 91.3%
Wickliffe                                               90th in the State with 84.0%
Madison                                            124th in the State with 68.8%
Perry                                                   125th in the State with 68.4%
Kirtland                                              136th in the State with 64.2%
Willoughby – Eastlake                    190th in the State with 48.6%
Morley Library                                  244th in the State with 28.0%

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Market penetration is the percentage of a target market that consumes a product or service.

To the Morley Library Trustees –  a little embarrassing isn’t it?…..Before you ask a for continuing levy (FOREVER), you may wish to think about new strategies on how you can become relevant in the community and increase the registered borrowers, because what you have done to date is not working.  Just our opinion.

Stay tuned, we will have a lot more information on Lake County libraries.  Honesty and transparency on all local issues is our goal.

Categories: Lake