Public library systems in Kansas
The 294 profiled public library systems in Kansas served 2.5 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 3.79 visits and 6.23 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 11th and 10th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $71.42 per resident (8th nationally). Local government supplied 86% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 3%.
The largest system is Johnson County Library, serving 474,776 residents; 5 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 (268 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Kansas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County Library | Overland Park | 474,776 | 3.94 | 10.93 | $114.39 |
| Wichita Public Library | Wichita | 396,119 | 1.63 | 2.61 | $31.14 |
| Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library | Topeka | 173,973 | 2.62 | 6.20 | $116.12 |
| Kansas City, Kansas Public Library | Kansas City | 157,667 | 2.03 | 3.29 | $63.45 |
| Olathe Public Library | Olathe | 147,461 | 4.15 | 8.47 | $59.79 |
| Lawrence Public Library | Lawrence | 96,207 | 4.23 | 6.26 | $75.51 |
| Manhattan Public Library | Manhattan | 53,682 | 7.40 | 8.65 | $81.50 |
| Salina Public Library | Salina | 45,792 | 3.37 | 7.17 | $68.01 |
| Hutchinson Public Library | Hutchinson | 39,662 | 2.74 | 6.62 | $69.11 |
| Finney County Public Library | Garden City | 37,466 | 1.99 | 1.72 | $30.41 |
| Leavenworth Public Library | Leavenworth | 37,034 | 2.65 | 3.31 | $45.61 |
| Dorothy Bramlage Public Library | Junction City | 35,047 | 1.81 | 1.69 | $29.43 |
| Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library | St. Marys | 28,587 | 1.09 | 3.41 | $28.20 |
| Emporia Public Library | Emporia | 28,532 | 1.86 | 4.21 | $46.84 |
| Dodge City Public Library | Dodge City | 27,514 | 2.60 | 1.91 | $50.24 |
| Derby Public Library | Derby | 26,233 | 6.43 | 9.78 | $81.11 |
| Hays Public Library | Hays | 21,040 | 6.60 | 9.20 | $96.47 |
| Pittsburg Public Library | Pittsburg | 20,504 | 3.76 | 6.03 | $50.54 |
| Liberal Memorial Library | Liberal | 18,999 | 3.42 | 1.92 | $37.07 |
| Newton Public Library | Newton | 18,251 | 4.95 | 7.19 | $53.54 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 56 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Coffey County Library · 14.70
- Colby/Pioneer Memorial Library · 13.45
- Tonganoxie Public Library · 10.41
- Coffeyville Public Library · 9.66
- Pratt Public Library · 8.33
Checkouts per resident
- Johnson County Library · 10.93
- Derby Public Library · 9.78
- Andover Public Library · 9.72
- Bonner Springs City Library · 9.69
- Coffey County Library · 9.59
Spending per resident
- Coffey County Library · $180.78
- Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library · $116.12
- Johnson County Library · $114.39
- Bonner Springs City Library · $110.50
- Basehor Community Library, Dist #2, Lv. Co. · $107.19
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $193 million across the 288 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other