Library systems by size of population served
Comparisons on this site are made within eleven size classes, the population bands IMLS uses in its own tables. Of the 8,561 profiled systems, 4,765 serve fewer than 10,000 residents; 35 serve a million or more.
- 1 million+35 systems
- 500k–1m61 systems
- 250k–500k122 systems
- 100k–250k360 systems
- 50k–100k559 systems
- 25k–50k964 systems
- 10k–25k1,695 systems
- 5k–10k1,408 systems
- 2.5k–5k1,201 systems
- 1k–2.5k1,355 systems
- under 1k801 systems
Medians by size class
| Population served | Systems | Visits per resident | Checkouts per resident | Spending per resident | Open hours per outlet a week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 million or more | 35 | 2.09 | 2.84 | $41.62 | 47.6 |
| 500,000 to 999,999 | 61 | 2.19 | 3.86 | $47.86 | 46.5 |
| 250,000 to 499,999 | 122 | 2.22 | 3.54 | $35.93 | 46.8 |
| 100,000 to 249,999 | 360 | 2.04 | 3.05 | $33.94 | 45.2 |
| 50,000 to 99,999 | 559 | 2.26 | 3.41 | $36.80 | 48.1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 964 | 2.81 | 3.95 | $42.91 | 51.0 |
| 10,000 to 24,999 | 1,695 | 3.07 | 3.94 | $43.31 | 48.0 |
| 5,000 to 9,999 | 1,408 | 3.11 | 3.92 | $43.49 | 43.3 |
| 2,500 to 4,999 | 1,201 | 2.91 | 3.84 | $42.72 | 38.4 |
| 1,000 to 2,499 | 1,355 | 3.19 | 3.94 | $48.93 | 30.1 |
| under 1,000 | 801 | 4.08 | 3.76 | $64.04 | 21.2 |