Public library systems in Georgia
The 60 profiled public library systems in Georgia served 11.2 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 1.63 visits and 2.21 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 48th and 50th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $22.72 per resident (50th nationally). Local government supplied 76% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 18%.
The largest system is Fulton County Library System, serving 1,094,693 residents; 31 systems serve 100,000 or more. At the end of the year, 15% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the multi-jurisdictional library (35 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Georgia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County Library System | Atlanta | 1,094,693 | 2.13 | 2.10 | $27.24 |
| Gwinnett County Public Library System | Lawrenceville | 992,705 | 2.06 | 2.73 | $25.88 |
| Cobb County Public Library System | Marietta | 783,536 | 1.80 | 2.30 | $24.43 |
| Dekalb County Public Library | Decatur | 768,134 | 2.08 | 2.44 | $38.11 |
| West Georgia Regional Library | Carrollton | 510,050 | 1.34 | 2.06 | $16.52 |
| Live Oak Public Libraries | Savannah | 450,821 | 1.41 | 1.72 | $25.90 |
| Sequoyah Regional Library System | Canton | 361,084 | 1.14 | 2.36 | $15.73 |
| Clayton County Library System | Jonesboro | 302,512 | 1.07 | 0.55 | $19.59 |
| Flint River Regional Library System | Griffin | 295,143 | 1.84 | 2.96 | $20.48 |
| Forsyth County Public Library | Cumming | 279,366 | 2.73 | 8.20 | $34.06 |
| Middle Georgia Regional Library System | Macon | 270,784 | 1.38 | 1.81 | $24.71 |
| Henry County Library System | McDonough | 257,669 | 0.76 | 1.28 | $13.93 |
| Athens Regional Library System | Athens | 250,788 | 2.16 | 2.85 | $17.63 |
| Chattahoochee Valley Libraries | Columbus | 223,782 | 2.17 | 3.31 | $38.22 |
| Hall County Library System | Gainesville | 220,128 | 1.32 | 2.02 | $18.92 |
| Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System | Augusta | 206,731 | 1.00 | 1.06 | $18.41 |
| Northwest Georgia Regional Library System | Dalton | 206,487 | 0.68 | 1.13 | $12.11 |
| Piedmont Regional Library System | Jefferson | 205,263 | 1.76 | 2.84 | $18.43 |
| Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library | Evans | 204,836 | 1.48 | 3.11 | $20.14 |
| Azalea Regional Library System | Madison | 199,682 | 1.78 | 1.76 | $18.09 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 60 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Forsyth County Public Library · 2.73
- Thomas County Public Library System · 2.36
- Chattahoochee Valley Libraries · 2.17
- Mountain Regional Library System · 2.16
- Athens Regional Library System · 2.16
Checkouts per resident
- Forsyth County Public Library · 8.20
- Lee County Public Library · 3.61
- Chattahoochee Valley Libraries · 3.31
- Catoosa County Library · 3.13
- Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library · 3.11
Spending per resident
- Dougherty County Public Library · $39.91
- Chattahoochee Valley Libraries · $38.22
- Dekalb County Public Library · $38.11
- Kinchafoonee Regional Library System · $34.47
- Forsyth County Public Library · $34.06
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $259 million across the 60 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other