CHICAGO, IL.- A new international study ranks the Chicago Public Library No. 1 in the United States and No. 3 in the world, ahead of Shanghai (5th), Singapore (7th), New York (9th), Beijing (13th), Hong Kong (17th) and London (30th).

“Libraries serve as economic and social anchors in our communities, which is why it is so important to invest in these neighborhood hubs,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “This report adds to the volume of research recognizing the leading global role that Chicago Public Library has taken in leveraging technology to enhance library services and underscores the fact that Chicago is recognized internationally as a world-class city.”

The empirical study ranked the core services of public libraries across the globe and was released by the Information Science Department of Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf in Germany. It ranks Chicago first domestically and third internationally as one of the 31 major urban libraries taking a leadership role in supporting “smart cities” in the “knowledge economy.”

The Chicago Public Library is comprised of the Harold Washington Library Center, two regional libraries and more than 70 neighborhood branches. All locations provide free access to a rich collection of books, DVDs, audiobooks and music; the Internet and WiFi; sophisticated research databases, many of which can be accessed from a home or office computer; newspapers and magazines; and continue to serve as cultural centers, presenting the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children teens and adults. Visit www.chipublib.org for more information.