The Cuyahoga County Public Library System was named the top library system in the United States for a population of 500,000+, according to the 2009 Hennen American Public Library Ratings (HAPLR). A total of 9,080 libraries were included in the study.

In 2008, CCPL was named the second best library system in the country, topped only by another Ohio library system - Columbus Metropolitan Library. This year, however, the two systems swapped places, with CCPL rising to the top, and CML falling into second place.

CCPL has hit new circulation records in each of the last four years, and is on pace to set yet another record in 2009. Through June 2009, the system's circulation has already surpassed 9.4 million items, which constitutes a 7 percent increase over the first six months of last year.

The Cuyahoga County Public Library consists of 28 branches located throughout Cuyahoga County and the system's Administrative Offices.

One quarter of the top ten libraries in the 2009 ratings are Ohio libraries, continuing the same trend which has been evident for over a decade now. Facing potentially severe budget cuts, however, it is not yet clear if Ohio libraries will be able to continue providing the same levels of service as they have up until now.