Public library systems in Connecticut
The 171 profiled public library systems in Connecticut served 3.2 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 4.05 visits and 5.37 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 5th and 19th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $67.30 per resident (9th nationally). Local government supplied 83% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 1%.
The largest system is Bridgeport Public Library, serving 148,028 residents; 4 systems serve 100,000 or more. At the end of the year, 77% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the municipal library (97 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport Public Library | Bridgeport | 148,028 | 1.49 | 0.99 | $57.86 |
| Ferguson Library | Stamford | 136,226 | 3.54 | 3.39 | $76.84 |
| New Haven Free Public Library | New Haven | 135,319 | 2.86 | 1.13 | $58.21 |
| Silas Bronson Library | Waterbury | 114,990 | 1.32 | 0.95 | $22.32 |
| Danbury Public Library | Danbury | 86,124 | 1.44 | 2.17 | $26.21 |
| New Britain Public Library | New Britain | 74,080 | 2.22 | 2.93 | $41.97 |
| West Hartford Public Library | West Hartford | 63,969 | 4.75 | 8.87 | $53.23 |
| Greenwich Library | Greenwich | 63,574 | 7.74 | 9.06 | $170.95 |
| Perrot Memorial Library | Old Greenwich | 63,574 | 1.75 | 2.10 | $31.06 |
| Fairfield Public Library | Fairfield | 63,433 | 5.61 | 7.72 | $60.24 |
| Pequot Library Association | Southport | 63,433 | 0.37 | 0.43 | $25.78 |
| Bristol Public Library | Bristol | 61,601 | 2.72 | 3.78 | $68.40 |
| Meriden Public Library | Meriden | 60,111 | 2.08 | 1.39 | $42.44 |
| Hamden Public Library | Hamden | 60,014 | 1.01 | 3.91 | $37.36 |
| Manchester Public Library | Manchester | 59,408 | 3.42 | 10.10 | $58.46 |
| West Haven Public Library | West Haven | 54,790 | 2.25 | 1.55 | $34.12 |
| Milford Public Library | Milford | 52,793 | 2.23 | 4.48 | $37.19 |
| Stratford Library Association | Stratford | 52,454 | 2.69 | 4.51 | $71.69 |
| East Hartford Public Library | East Hartford | 50,654 | 1.87 | 1.29 | $29.66 |
| Russell Library | Middletown | 47,984 | 3.66 | 4.23 | $73.00 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 138 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- New Canaan Library · 17.06
- Simsbury Public Library · 12.65
- Westport Library · 12.20
- Wilton Library Association · 11.66
- Darien Library · 10.93
Checkouts per resident
- Darien Library · 20.42
- Simsbury Public Library · 15.68
- Durham Public Library · 14.38
- Woodbridge Town Library · 13.64
- Avon Free Public Library · 13.36
Spending per resident
- Darien Library · $257.08
- Westport Library · $245.73
- Wilton Library Association · $203.30
- New Canaan Library · $198.96
- Greenwich Library · $170.95
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $217 million across the 170 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other