Public library systems in Arkansas
The 47 profiled public library systems in Arkansas served 2.9 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 2.40 visits and 2.51 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 37th and 47th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $37.17 per resident (39th nationally). Local government supplied 91% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 4%.
The largest system is Central Arkansas Library System, serving 344,553 residents; 6 systems serve 100,000 or more. At the end of the year, 36% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the county library (20 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Arkansas Library System | Little Rock | 344,553 | 3.53 | 3.46 | $79.19 |
| Mid Arkansas Regional Library System | Malvern | 189,438 | 1.69 | 1.01 | $21.30 |
| Washington County Library System | Fayetteville | 159,869 | 2.01 | 4.79 | $29.62 |
| Faulkner-Van Buren Regional Library System | Conway | 143,767 | 2.97 | 2.20 | $19.18 |
| Crowley Ridge Regional Library | Jonesboro | 133,860 | 1.65 | 1.60 | $22.06 |
| Garland County Library | Hot Springs | 100,180 | 2.91 | 4.94 | $38.74 |
| Fayetteville Public Library | Fayetteville | 93,949 | 4.26 | 8.91 | $155.25 |
| Fort Smith Public Library | Fort Smith | 89,142 | 2.40 | 2.66 | $45.11 |
| Arkansas River Valley Regional Library | Dardanelle | 87,100 | 1.11 | 1.42 | $38.84 |
| White River Regional Library | Mountain View | 80,973 | 1.10 | 1.11 | $19.91 |
| White County Regional Library System | Searcy | 79,091 | 2.45 | 3.16 | $23.59 |
| Northeast Arkansas Regional Library | Paragould | 75,834 | 1.53 | 1.55 | $25.37 |
| Rogers Public Library | Rogers | 74,327 | 1.32 | 2.05 | $37.94 |
| Lonoke County Library System | Lonoke | 74,015 | 2.11 | 1.35 | $26.72 |
| Texarkana Public Library | Texarkana | 68,716 | 1.09 | 0.67 | $15.25 |
| North Little Rock Public Library System | North Little Rock | 66,810 | 9.33 | 0.85 | $71.25 |
| Pope County Library System | Russellville | 64,829 | 1.99 | 2.08 | $24.67 |
| Mississippi/Crittenden Regional Library | Blytheville | 64,204 | 1.00 | 0.47 | $25.37 |
| Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System | Pine Bluff | 63,672 | 1.38 | 1.30 | $27.60 |
| Crawford County Library System | Van Buren | 62,741 | 2.51 | 1.80 | $19.02 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 46 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- North Little Rock Public Library System · 9.33
- Siloam Springs Public Library · 8.45
- Bentonville Public Library · 5.81
- Fayetteville Public Library · 4.26
- Carroll and Madison Library System · 4.10
Checkouts per resident
- Bentonville Public Library · 10.63
- Fayetteville Public Library · 8.91
- Garland County Library · 4.94
- Washington County Library System · 4.79
- Siloam Springs Public Library · 3.85
Spending per resident
- Fayetteville Public Library · $155.25
- Central Arkansas Library System · $79.19
- North Little Rock Public Library System · $71.25
- Lawrence County Library · $46.22
- Fort Smith Public Library · $45.11
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $133 million across the 47 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other