Update: The round of 32 bracket will be revealed on Saturday. As of Friday morning, more than 10,000 votes have been cast.
Update: News coverage of the Leslie B. Knope Award – Evansville nominated for national award and Real life Pawnee: Evansville library in running for Leslie Knope award
Last year, we awarded the prestigious Leslie B. Knope Award to Peoria City Hall. This year, we’re highlighting the best public libraries! From the historic to modern, functional to quaint, and urban to rural, the voting for the best public library in America begins this week. We’ll narrow the list below to the 32 best libraries which will be entered into the bracket challenge with a round each week. Use #ELGLKnope to show your support for your favorite library. Questions? Contact Kent at kent@elgl.org. More info on ELGL is available at In the News and Membership.
Learn more about libraries at Double Shot: Aspen Institute and Public Libraries and
Timeline
January 22 to 26 – First round of voting
January 29 to February 2- Round of 32
February 5 to 9 – Sweet 16
February 12 to 16 – Elite Eight
February 19 to 23 – Final Four
February 26 to March 2 – National Championship
Vote! Vote! Vote!
[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email” type=”text” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Top Public Libraries #1 (Vote for up to 5)” type=”text”][contact-field label=”Top Public Libraries #2 (Vote for up to 5)” type=”text”][contact-field label=”Top Public Libraries #3 (Vote for up to 5)” type=”text”][contact-field label=”Top Public Libraries #4 (Vote for up to 5)” type=”text”][contact-field label=”Top Public Libraries #5 (Vote for up to 5)” type=”text”][/contact-form]
* You can only vote once.
List of Nominees
Alabama
Main Branch, Gadsden, AL
Alaska
Z.J. Loussac Library, Anchorage, AK
Arizona
Main Library, Mesa, AZ
Public Library, Sierra Vista, AZ
Clark Memorial Library – Yavapai County Free Library District, Clarkdale, AZ
Arkansas
Roosevelt Thompson, Little Rock, AR
Hillary Clinton Children’s, Little Rock, AR
Main Library, Little Rock, AR
California
Main Library, Oakland, CA
Public Library, Sausalito, CA
Central Library, Livermore, CA
Katy Geissert Civic Center Library, Torrance, CA
Archibald Library, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Paul A. Biane Library, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Downtown Library, Redwood City, CA
City Library, Downey, CA
Colorado
Main Library, Boulder, CO
Central Library, Aurora, CO
Pueblo City-County Library District, Pueblo, CO
Library 21c, Colorado Springs, CO
Connecticut
Downtown Public Library, Hartford, CT
Delaware
Public Library, Dover, DE
Florida
Public Library, Largo, FL
Public Library, Leesburg, FL
Downtown Library, Boca Raton, FL
Spanish River Library, Boca Raton, FL
Public Library, Duneding, FL
Gulf Beaches Public Library, Madeira Beach, FL
Nassau County Public Library – Fernandina Beach Branch, Fernandina Beach, FL
Public Library, North Miami Beach, FL
Public Library, Safety Harbor, FL
Downtown Public Library, Saint Joseph, FL
Public Library, Sanibel, FL
Hendry County Library System Central Library, Clewiston, FL
Public Library, Temple Terrace, FL
Georgia
Athens-Clarke County Library, Athens, GA
Hawaii
Kihei Public Library, Kihei, HI
Idaho
Nampa Public Library, Nampa, ID
Illinois
Public Library, Glencoe, IL
Public Library, Effingham, IL
South Elgin Branch , South Elgin, IL
Memorial Library, Arlington Heights, IL
Public Library, Normal, IL
Indiana
Main Library, Bend, IN
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, Evansville, IN
Iowa
Downtown Library, Cedar Rapids, IA
Public Library, Iowa City, IA
Kansas
Public Library, Lawrence, KS
Kentucky
Main Library, Bowling Green, KY
Louisiana
Ouachita Parish Public Library, Monroe, LA
Maine
Public Library, Bangor, ME
Maryland
C. Burr Artz Public Library, Frederick, MD
Massachusetts
Morrill Memorial Library, Norwood, MA
Jonathon Bourne Public Library, Bourne, MA
Michigan
Public Library, Sterling Heights, MI
Central Library, Grosse Point, MI
Bennett Civic Center Library, Livonia, MI
Minnesota
Minneapolis Central Library (Hennepin County Library), Minneapolis, MN
Public Library, Owatonna, MN
George Latimer Central Library, St. Paul, MN
Mississippi
Carnegie Library, Jackson, MS
Missouri
Public Library (Central), St. Louis, MO
Public Library, Joplin, MO
Public Library – Central Branch, Kansas City, MO
Public Library, University City, MO
Montana
Public Library, Bozeman, MT
Nebraska
Lied Public Library, Scottsbluff, NE
Nevada
Public Library, Carson City, NV
New Hampshire
Public Library, Concord, NH
New Jersey
Public Library, Princeton, NJ
New Mexico
Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, Las Cruces, NM
New York
Frederick Douglass Community Library, Rochester, NY
North Carolina
Community Library, Cary, NC
Public Library, Chapel Hill, NC
Public Library, Goldsboro, NC
North Dakota
Public Library, Grand Forks, ND
Ohio
Public Library, Bexley, OH
Cleveland Heights – Public Library, University Heights, OH
Oklahoma
Public Library, Lawton, OK
Oregon
City Library, Beaverton, OR
Downtown Library, Eugene, OR
Brookwood Library, Hillsboro, OR
Shute Park Library, Hillsboro, OR
Ledding Library – Milwaukie, OR
Public Library, Mt. Angel, OR
Public Library, West Linn, OR
Pennsylvania
Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Raymond M. Blasco M.D. Memorial Library, Erie, MN
Schlow Centre Region Library, State College, PA
Township Library, Upper St. Clair, PA
Rhode Island
Central Library, Warwick, RI
South Carolina
Headquarters Library, Spartanburg, SC
South Dakota
Downtown Library, Sioux Falls, SD
Tennessee
Downtown Library, Chattanooga, TN
Main Library, Nashville, TN
Texas
Public Library, Baytown, TX
Public Library, Lewisville, TX
Patrick Heath Public Library, Boerne, TX
Utah
Provo Library at Academy Square Provo, UT
Vermont
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, VT
Virginia
Public Library, Williamsburg, VA
Washington
Central Library, Seattle, WA
Community Library, Vancouver, WA
West Virginia
Main Library, Charleston, WV
Wisconsin
Alice Baker Library, Eagle, WI
Public Library, Altoona, WI
Central Library (South Central Library System), Madison, WI
Public Library, Rice Lake, WI
Public Library, River Falls, WI
Public Library, Milton, WI
Central Branch, Milwaukee, WI
Public Library, West Allis, WI
Public Library, Platteville, WI
Public Library, Winneconne, WI
Public Library, Reedsburg, WI
Wyoming
Main Library, Casper, WY