Public library systems in Alaska
The 42 profiled public library systems in Alaska served 638,126 residents in FY 2024 and logged 3.13 visits and 3.95 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 24th and 31st among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $64.42 per resident (11th nationally). Local government supplied 96% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 1%.
The largest system is Anchorage Public Library, serving 289,653 residents. At the end of the year, 64% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the municipal library (17 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Alaska 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Public Library | Anchorage | 289,653 | 1.84 | 2.99 | $46.96 |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Libraries | Fairbanks | 95,972 | 1.40 | 2.45 | $67.09 |
| Wasilla Public Library | Wasilla | 51,796 | 2.08 | 4.64 | $31.30 |
| Juneau Public Libraries | Juneau | 31,549 | 5.50 | 5.64 | $101.93 |
| Palmer Public Library | Palmer | 26,978 | 1.71 | 2.01 | $30.01 |
| Ketchikan Public Library | Ketchikan | 13,475 | 4.32 | 4.66 | $100.99 |
| Talkeetna Public Library | Talkeetna | 12,918 | 2.70 | 1.66 | $28.55 |
| Kodiak Public Library | Kodiak | 12,389 | 1.82 | 4.91 | $69.97 |
| Big Lake Public Library | Wasilla | 9,636 | 3.21 | 3.16 | $44.72 |
| Tuzzy Consortium Library | Utqiagvik | 9,321 | 3.50 | 1.22 | $102.34 |
| Sitka Public Library | Sitka | 8,231 | 11.28 | 8.33 | $150.43 |
| Kenai Community Library | Kenai | 7,614 | 7.58 | 9.78 | $126.42 |
| Kuskokwim Consortium Library | Bethel | 6,152 | 4.45 | 1.42 | $50.61 |
| Willow Public Library | Willow | 5,899 | 2.94 | 3.52 | $66.80 |
| Homer Public Library | Homer | 5,669 | 18.58 | 24.07 | $181.04 |
| Sutton Public Library/Community Resource Center | Sutton | 4,600 | 4.56 | 4.00 | $78.76 |
| Joyce K. Carver Memorial Soldotna Public Library | Soldotna | 4,574 | 21.23 | 28.41 | $215.63 |
| Unalaska Public Library | Unalaska | 4,093 | 4.08 | 4.03 | $249.75 |
| Valdez Consortium Library | Valdez | 3,852 | 4.61 | 4.52 | $167.48 |
| Kegoayah Kozga Library | Nome | 3,506 | 3.99 | 3.07 | $130.75 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 15 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Homer Public Library · 18.58
- Sitka Public Library · 11.28
- Kenai Community Library · 7.58
- Juneau Public Libraries · 5.50
- Kuskokwim Consortium Library · 4.45
Checkouts per resident
- Homer Public Library · 24.07
- Kenai Community Library · 9.78
- Sitka Public Library · 8.33
- Juneau Public Libraries · 5.64
- Kodiak Public Library · 4.91
Spending per resident
- Homer Public Library · $181.04
- Sitka Public Library · $150.43
- Kenai Community Library · $126.42
- Tuzzy Consortium Library · $102.34
- Juneau Public Libraries · $101.93
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $43.6 million across the 42 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other