New Carlisle-Olive Township Public Library (NCPL), located in the Town of New Carlisle on the western edge of St. Joseph County, recently received 4 Star status from the industry publication Library Journal. NCPL is one of only 5 libraries in Indiana to receive this distinction.
Library Journal rates U.S. public libraries annually by looking at libraries with similar spending. It looks at statistics per capita in order to make the most accurate comparisons across categories like number of visits, circulation of print and ebooks, program attendance, and computer use. It then awards five, four, or three stars to a handful of libraries across the country.
A recent remodel has enhanced the services the Library provides. It now has a reading garden with WiFi access for adults and an exploration garden for children, both filled with native plants. The Creative Space provides a Cricut for patrons to use, a 3D printer, and an iMac with Adobe Creative Suites. Picture books have been placed faceout, like the old record shelving, so kids can easily find a book that interests them. A Library of Things has been added for all ages, where you can check out a variety of things like sleds, board games, and an ice cream maker.
NCPL ranked 20th in the U.S., compared with libraries with similar budgets. Other libraries in Indiana that made the list are Lake County Public Library, 3 stars; Monroe County Public Library, 3 stars; Carmel Clay Public Library, 3 stars; and Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library, 4 stars.