Library Aide Connie Hudson helps a patron, Mykel Knight, while Library Aides Lauren Buchanan and Fred Lowry work in the background.

Foley Library FY 2016 statistics

1. Total circulation of titles including physical books and e-books - 632,744

2. Total number of titles (physical items) - 81,881

3. Registered borrowers - 13,758

4. Total items added - 6,003

5. Door count - 421,448

The Foley Public Library received a five-star rating that placed the Foley Library at the top of its classification in the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. The rating is based on five measures: circulation, library visits, program attendance, public Internet computer use and circulation of electronic materials.

The Foley Library was ranked at the top the index of ten libraries across the nation that received five stars in the $400,000 - $999,999 expenditure range.

"The Foley Public Library has continued to grow in the services offered to its patrons, activities centered on community and in the number of titles in various formats that can be accessed by the public,” said John Jackson, director of the Foley Library. “And even while expanding services offered, the library staff has continued to value its interaction with local patrons. We continue to work even harder to insure a welcoming environment for all who depend on us for information, entertainment and a place from which they can improve their lives. And it is that philosophy that has allowed a dedicated staff to prove themselves on a national level.”

The Foley Public Library received a four-star rating in 2015 for its initial recognition by the Library Journal. That rating placed the library in rarefied air as only six other state libraries received a star rating. The improvement this year to a five-star rating was underwritten by increased patron visits, number of activities at the library and by virtue of more titles checked out by patrons in Foley and throughout the county, according to Jackson.