The Chatham-Kent Public Library has achieved a prestigious status only granted to a select few libraries across the province.
Following a successful audit of all of its 11 library branches in the municipality, the Chatham-Kent Public Library has received accreditation from the Ontario Public Library Guidelines Monitoring and Accreditation Council.
Out of the 265 library boards and 45 First Nations public libraries in Ontario, only 11 per cent are accredited.
To achieve accreditation, auditors review 179 standards that include governance, access, partnerships, planning, personnel, collections, and facilities.
Achieving accreditation was an important strategic goal for CKPL to demonstrate its social value,” library officials said in a news release. “To be successful, a library needs to regularly consult with the community it serves as well as routinely coordinate with community partners to continue to improve services. Accreditation status confirms CKPL as a strong service hub.”
CKPL will keep its accreditation status for the next five years and will be recognized for the achievement at the next Chatham-Kent Council meeting on Monday.