Lakewood Public Library Website Earns Critical Praise

[Kenneth Warren]

For many years librarians John Guscott and Mary Ellen Stasek have been leading the way with a deep, sensible and smart in-house approach to content generation and organization of Lakewood Public Library’s Electronic Services website.

Over the years, the website has received various awards. And it’s always encouraging when the fine work of Lakewood Public Library’s Electronic Services team achieves critical and professional recognition for the many distinctive qualities that continue to make Lakewood Public Library’s web site so valuable a community asset.


Ms. Block, who has written for American Libraries and Library Journal, is highly respected for her critical and professional insights. In a review at Ex Libris (http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib306.html), she highlights the logic that informs LPL's vision for public library website design.

Here’s a taste:

“Of all the library web sites that I've studied in the course of researching The Thriving Library <http://marylaine.com/thrive.html>, the one I find completely unique in its design belongs to the Lakewood (OH) Public Library <http://www.lkwdpl.org/>…..

Lakewood Public Library consistently ranks high in the HAPLR ratings, and was first in its population category in 2006. Nobody who viewed its web site would be surprised. Its unique design and content show off all the ways in which its librarians not only serve the needs of the community but anticipate them."

Ms. Block writes at length and shows how deeply the library and community are connected in Lakewood.

Source:
http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib306.html

Congratulations to John Guscott and Mary Ellen Stasek who have been with guiding the library’s website since its beginning.

We all appreciate the quality of your work and its reflection upon our library and community.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

[Mike Deneen]

This is no surprise....like everything associated with LPL, the website is first class all the way.

THank you to John and Mary Ellen for your hard work!

[Bill Grulich]

Lakewood Public Library first class all the way. Thank you John and Mary Ellen!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Ken

You are blessed like me, being surround by good people.

Standing ovation to John and Mary Ellen.


.

[John Guscott]

Thank you Bill, Mike and Jim!

The library's Web site was launched in Jan 1996, and we had 65,000 hits for the year. Last year we topped 65 million hits!

I would also like to commend Chanel Steiner, who has worked alongside Mary Ellen Stasek in developing the Web page since 1997. Chanel is particularly responsible for launching the original Lakewood City Schools Web site, the original Ohio Proficiency Test site and the Sts. Cyril & Methodius School Web site. She has worked also worked extensively with many civic groups to create their online presence on the library’s site, including various Lakewood PTAs, PTOs, LECPTA, Lakewood Community Care, the Lakewood Recreation Swim Team and the Youth Master Plan initiative, to name a few.