PAGE, Ariz. — Libraries are home to books, movies, CDs, teen and children's programming and resources for community members — you name it, a library has it.
And in Page, Arizona, the Page Public Library is now home to the title "Best Small Library in America 2023."
The Page Public Library, located on the northern Arizona border, was named the Best Small Library in America by Library Journal and Ingram Content Group.
“No matter what people need, they call the library,” Lynn Cormier, director of several departments for the City of Page, including the library, said in a Library Journal article. “If I say, ‘You should call City Hall,’ they say, ‘No, I’m going to call the library.’”
The library does more than loan books. In addition to checkouts, the library helped Canyonlands Urgent Care get the word out about a Naloxone vending machine set up at the city's community center. The library also has items stocked for checkout like bicycles, camping, baking pans and pickleball equipment.
From food programs for families to early literacy programs for kids preparing for school, the small but mighty team of nine employees listens to the community to create new programs and better serve the people who love the Page Public Library.
The city of Page has a population of 7,000 people and occupies about 16 square miles. But the library helps those from the adjacent Navajo Nation community, as well as the towns of Bitter Springs, Marble Canyon, LeChee, Greenehaven, Kaibeto, and Big Water, Utah, covering some 7,500 miles across Coconino County, according to the Library Journal article.
The annual award, relaunched with the support of sustaining sponsor Ingram Content Group, was created in 2005 to showcase the exemplary work of libraries serving populations under 25,000.
The Page Public Library is the second Arizona landmark to recently earn a 'Best of' award. Rebel Lounge, a concert venue in Phoenix, was named the best small music venue in the world by Billboard in February.
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