Public library systems in Alabama
The 214 profiled public library systems in Alabama served 4.7 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 2.28 visits and 2.96 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 39th and 43rd among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $26.90 per resident (46th nationally). Local government supplied 88% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 5%.
The largest system is Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, serving 403,565 residents; 9 systems serve 100,000 or more. At the end of the year, 33% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the municipal library (167 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Alabama system, grouped by the size of the population it serves; darker dots have their own profile page. The gold tick marks the national median for that size class.
The 20 largest systems
| System | City | Residents | Visits per resident | Checkouts per resident | Spending per resident |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville-Madison County Public Library | Huntsville | 403,565 | 3.25 | 6.29 | $20.26 |
| Mobile Public Library | Mobile | 371,984 | 2.09 | 3.12 | $30.22 |
| Tuscaloosa Public Library | Tuscaloosa | 236,780 | 3.45 | 2.17 | $18.07 |
| Montgomery City-County Public Library | Montgomery | 226,361 | 1.63 | 1.64 | $27.97 |
| Birmingham Public Library | Birmingham | 196,910 | 4.53 | 1.82 | $72.70 |
| Horseshoe Bend Regional Library | Dadeville | 159,028 | 0.03 | 0.29 | $2.15 |
| Athens-Limestone Public Library | Athens | 110,900 | 0.70 | 1.03 | $6.66 |
| Dothan Houston County Library System | Dothan | 108,079 | 2.73 | 1.34 | $16.20 |
| Cheaha Regional Library | Heflin | 100,914 | 0.02 | 0.27 | $1.08 |
| Florence-Lauderdale Public Library | Florence | 92,744 | 1.17 | 1.95 | $12.65 |
| Hoover Public Library | Hoover | 92,435 | 4.12 | 10.16 | $96.80 |
| Decatur Public Library | Decatur | 91,130 | 0.84 | 1.27 | $10.04 |
| Cullman County Public Library | Cullman | 90,665 | 2.46 | 0.97 | $6.75 |
| Auburn Public Library | Auburn | 80,006 | 1.81 | 6.69 | $37.36 |
| Anniston-Calhoun County Public Library | Anniston | 72,719 | 1.21 | 1.32 | $12.58 |
| Gadsden-Etowah County Public Library | Gadsden | 64,951 | 1.77 | 1.06 | $20.67 |
| Autauga-Prattville Public Library | Prattville | 59,759 | 1.16 | 4.26 | $8.90 |
| Phenix City-Russell County Public Library | Phenix City | 58,555 | 0.64 | 0.64 | $10.13 |
| Fort Payne-Dekalb County Public Library | Fort Payne | 58,189 | 0.34 | 0.61 | $5.70 |
| North Shelby Library | Birmingham | 54,151 | 1.82 | 4.71 | $27.03 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 137 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Orange Beach Public Library · 14.66
- Opelika Public Library · 12.28
- Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest · 8.59
- Roanoke-Annie L. Awbrey Public Library · 8.21
- Robertsdale Public Library · 7.99
Checkouts per resident
- Sylacauga-B. B. Comer Memorial Library · 19.55
- Orange Beach Public Library · 15.22
- Mountain Brook-Emmet O`neal Library · 14.41
- Homewood Public Library · 11.99
- Foley Public Library · 11.68
Spending per resident
- Mountain Brook-Emmet O`neal Library · $178.97
- Brewton Public Library · $119.55
- Homewood Public Library · $118.18
- Hoover Public Library · $96.80
- Orange Beach Public Library · $92.36
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $133 million across the 213 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other
More system profiles
- Harrison Regional Library System · Columbiana