With all this year's variations in mind, it’s no surprise that this year’s Star Libraries roster contains many changes. The three new five-star libraries for 2020 are Griswold Public Library, IA ($50-99.9K); Dexter Public Library, IA; and Endeavor Public Library, WI (both $10–49.9K).

FOUR STARS

There are 41 new four-star libraries this year. The only one in the $30M+ spending category is Indianapolis Public Library. There are three new four-star libraries in the $10–29.9M category, in Boise, ID; Cambridge, MA; and Madison, WI. Five new four-star libraries in the $5–9.9M category are those in Burlingame, CA; Des Plaines, IL; Downers Grove, IL; Geauga County, OH; and Newport Beach, CA. In the $1–4.9M category, the five new four-star libraries are in Homewood, AL; Jericho, NY; Falls Church, VA (Mary Riley Styles); and, also in Ohio, Rocky River and Twinsburg.

The lone new four-star library in the $400–999.9K category is the Blair Public Library & Technology Center in Nebraska. Seven new four-star libraries spending $200–399.9K annually include those in Guthrie, OK; Hesston, KS; Hot Springs, SD; Port Orford, OR; Red Feather Lakes, CO (Red Feather Mountain Library District); Swarthmore, PA; and Two Harbors, MN. In the $100–199.9K category, five new four-star libraries include those in Ainsworth, NE; Apalachin, NY (Apalachin Library Association); Craig, AK; Elkhart, KS (Elkhart, Morton County Library); and Seven Points, TX (The Library at Cedar Creek Lake). The six new four-star libraries in the $50–99.9K category include those in Dighton, KS (Dighton/Lane County Library); Meagher, MT (Meagher County/City Library); North Bend, NE; Readlyn, IA (Readlyn Community Library); Tonto Basin, AZ; and Turtle Lake, WI. And finally, in the $10–49.9K category, the eight remaining new four-star libraries are Albion, PA (Albion Area Public Library); Dunlap, IA; Dutton, MT (Dutton/Teton Public Library); Maxwell, IA; Melcher-Dallas, IA; Rushford, NY (Rushford Free Library); Tellico Plains, TN; and Prairie Lea, TX (Tri-Community Library).

THREE STARS

For 2020, there are 71 new three-star libraries. In the $30M+ category, the only two are Denver, CO, and Toledo, OH (Toledo–Lucas County Public Library). Among libraries spending $10–29.9M annually, the seven new three-star libraries include Akron, OH (Akron-Summit County Public Library); Charleston, SC (Charleston County Public Library System); Merrillville, IN (Lake County Public Library); Leesburg, VA (Loudon County Public Library); Fort Collins, CO (Poudre River Public Library District); Springfield, MO (Springfield–Greene County Library District); and South Bend, IN (St. Joseph County Public Library). In the $5-9.9M category, the eight new three-star libraries are Boulder, CO; Champaign, IL; Glenview, IL; Hewlett, NY (Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library); Hoover, AL; Mount Prospect, IL; Niles, IL (Niles–Maine District Library); and Saint Charles, IL (Saint Charles Public Library District) Another eight new 3-star libraries, all spending $1–4.9M annually, are Bronxville, NY; Carmel, CA (Harrison Memorial Library); Manilus, NY; Margate City, NJ; Park City, UT; Sedona, AZ; Sewickley, PA; and Perrysburg, OH (Way Public Library).

In the $400–999.9k category, 10 new three-star libraries are Dennis Port, MA (Dennis Public Library); Edgartown, MA (Edgartown Free Public Library); Portland, OR (Garden Home Community Library); Ashtabula Harbor, OH (Harbor-Topky Memorial Library); Jefferson, OH (Henderson Memorial Public Library Association); Hewitt, TX; Monona, WI; Page, AZ; Peninsula, OH (Peninsula Library & Historical Society); and Wickliffe, OH. Nine new 3-star libraries spending $200–399.9K annually are Belleville, KS; Belleville, WI; Corvallis, OR (Benton County Library); Caestecker, WI; Gold Beach, OR (Curry Public Library District); Fairport Harbor, OH; Gatesville, TX; Norwich, VT; and Soda Springs, ID. Among libraries spending $100–199.9K annually, seven new three-star libraries include Ashland, NE; Carrollton, MO; Castleton, NY; Greenville, NY; Honey Grove, TX (Honey Grove Public Library & Learning Center); Kingman, KS (Kingman Carnegie Library); and Springfield, NE (Springfield Memorial Library). Ten new 3-star libraries in the $50–99.9K category are Allison, IA; Cherryvale, KS; Dike, IA; Enosburgh, VT; McGraw, NY (Lamont Memorial Free Library); Montezuma, KS (Montezuma Township Library); Schroon Lake, NY; Union, OR (Union Carnegie Public Library); West Bend, IA; and Wyalusing, PA. In the $10–49.9K category, the 10 new three-star libraries are Alta Vista, IA; Garrison, ND; Glasgow, MO (Lewis Library of Glasgow); Monteagle, TN (May Justus Memorial Library); Philipsburg, MT; Pleasant Mount, PA; Pomeroy, IA; Stratford, IA; Vernon, NY; and Wyoming, IA.

GAINED STARS

From 2019 to 2020, 60 U.S. public libraries increased their Star Library ratings while remaining in the same spending categories.

Five libraries moved from three to five stars. These libraries include Cutchogue, NY’s Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library ($1–2.9M); the public libraries in Creighton, NE, and Philmont, NY (both $50–99.9K); and Crowell, TX’s Foard County Library and Healy, AK’s Tri-Valley Community Library (both $10–49.9K).

Thirty-one libraries moved from four to five stars. The lone library spending $30M+ to make that move is San Francisco (CA) Public Library. The five such libraries in the $10–29.9M category are Berkeley, CA; Eugene, OR; Henrico, VA (Henrico County Public Library); Ft. Mitchell, KY (Kenton County Public Library); and Schaumburg, IL (Schaumburg Township District Library). The three four-to-five star libraries in the $5–9.9M category are Cleveland Heights, OH (Cleveland Heights–University Heights Public Library); Lake Zurich, IL’s Ela Area Public Library District; and Oak Park Public Library, IL. In the $1–4.9M category, the one four-to-five star library is Oakwood, OH’s Wright Memorial Public Library.

The three four-to-five star libraries spending $400-999.9K annually are Van Wert, OH’s Brumback Library; Haines, AK’s Haines Borough Public Library; and New York’s Shelter IslandPublic Library Society. Five four-to-five star libraries in the $200–399.9K category are Maricopa, AZ’s Ak-Chin Indian Community Library and public libraries in Beresford, SD; Central City, NE; Ely, MN; and Rock Creek, OH. Among libraries spending $100-199.9K annually, the four four-to-five star libraries are Fairview City Library, OK; Moravia, NY’s Powers Library Association; Rogersville Public Library, AL; and Tivoli Free Library, NY. In the $50-99.9K category, four more libraries moved from four to five stars, including Elbridge, NY; Marion, KS (Marion City Library); Plainview, NE; and Saint Paul, NE. The final four four-to-five star libraries, all spending $10–49.9K annually, are Irvington, AL’s City of Bayou La Batre Public Library and public libraries in Elmwood, WI; Mound City, MO; and Mounds, OK.

Twenty-six libraries moved from three to four stars. The lone such library in the $30M+ category is Saint Louis County Library, MO. Among the $10–29.9M spending peers, there are four such libraries, including Castle Rock, CO’s Douglas County Libraries; Colorado Springs, CO’s Pikes Peak Library District; Shoreview, MN’s Ramsey County Library; and Bridgewater, NJ’s Somerset County Library. Three three-to-four star libraries spending between $5–9.9M annually are Iowa City Public Library, IA; Lincolnshire, IL’s Vernon Area Public Library District; and Williamsburg Regional Library, VA. In the $1–4.9M category, the two 3-four star libraries are Bexley, OH; and Lakewood, OH. Five three-to-four star libraries spending $400–999.9K annually are Moab, UT’s Grand County Public Library; Soldotna, AK’s Joyce K. Carver Memorial Library; Cold Spring, NY’s Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library; Osterville Village Library, MA; and Round Mountain, NV’s Smoky Valley Library District. Three libraries spending $200–399.9K annually that moved from three to four stars are Pittsburgh, PA’s Green Tree Public Library, West Point; NE’s John A. Stahl Library; and Alaska’s Skagway Public Library. In the $100–199.9K category, the three three-to-four star libraries are Dennis Memorial Library Association, MA; Freeman Public Library, SD; Alexandria Bay, NY’s MacSherry Library; and Rocky Ford Public Library, CO. Among those spending $50–99.9K, the three moving from three to four stars are the public libraries of Oakland, NE; Willow Springs, MO; and Windham, NY. The remaining two libraries moving from three to four stars—those spending $10-49.9K annually—are the public libraries of Deer Park, WI; and Platte, SD.

STILL STARS, NEW CONSTELLATIONS

Seven libraries retained Star Library status while moving up or down between spending categories.

Pueblo City-County Library District, CO, moved from three stars in 2019’s $5–9.9M group to five stars in 2020’s $10–29.9M group.

Red Hook Public Library, NY, retained five-star status while moving from 2019’s $200–399.9K group to 2020’s $400–999.9K group.

Three public libraries moved from three-star to four-star status while moving up one spending category. Those libraries are in North Kansas City, MO ($400–999.9K to $1–4.9M); Cimarron City, KS ($100–399.9K to $400–999.9K); and Rocky Ford, CO ($50–99.9K to $100–399.9K).

Williamsport/Washington Township Public Library, IN, moved from four stars in 2019’s $200–399.9K group to three stars in 2020’s $100–199.9K group.

And Centerville Community Library moved from five stars in 2019’s $50–99.9K group to four stars in 2020’s $100–199.9K group.

STATES WITH MOST & FEWEST 2020 STARS

The 2020 Star Libraries are scattered among 39 states across the country. The top six states are New York (34), Ohio (31), Iowa (18), Illinois (16), Nebraska (13), and Colorado (11). Kansas and Massachusetts tied for seventh and eighth places (10). California is in ninth place (nine), and Texas and Wisconsin (eight each) tied for tenth place.

Regionally, the Midwest has the largest number of Star Libraries at 120, followed by the Northeast at 61, and the West and South at 49 and 32, respectively.

There are no 2020 Star winners in the District of Columbia or the following 11 states: Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming.