Public library systems in Kentucky
The 120 profiled public library systems in Kentucky served 4.5 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 2.46 visits and 4.32 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 36th and 28th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $41.91 per resident (32nd nationally). Local government supplied 92% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 2%.
The largest system is Louisville Free Public Library, serving 772,144 residents; 7 systems serve 100,000 or more. At the end of the year, 83% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the library district (102 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville Free Public Library | Louisville | 772,144 | 2.29 | 2.87 | $31.25 |
| Lexington Public Library | Lexington | 320,154 | 3.12 | 10.71 | $54.12 |
| Kenton County Public Library | Erlanger | 171,321 | 3.56 | 7.45 | $79.98 |
| Warren County Public Library | Bowling Green | 142,229 | 2.73 | 4.69 | $28.50 |
| Boone County Public Library District | Burlington | 140,496 | 3.29 | 6.26 | $64.82 |
| Hardin County Public Library | Elizabethtown | 112,273 | 1.23 | 1.23 | $8.14 |
| Daviess County Public Library District | Owensboro | 103,458 | 4.08 | 5.40 | $42.54 |
| Madison County Public Library | Richmond | 96,735 | 2.86 | 3.82 | $35.00 |
| Campbell County Public Library District | Cold Spring | 93,702 | 4.01 | 6.77 | $53.98 |
| Bullitt County Library District | Shepherdsville | 84,863 | 3.06 | 3.34 | $78.37 |
| Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library | Hopkinsville | 72,032 | 0.70 | 0.98 | $13.96 |
| Oldham County Public Library | Lagrange | 70,183 | 2.46 | 4.47 | $35.62 |
| McCracken County Public Library | Paducah | 67,428 | 2.62 | 5.31 | $46.47 |
| Pulaski County Public Library | Somerset | 66,191 | 2.05 | 3.32 | $32.59 |
| Laurel County Public Library | London | 63,296 | 2.10 | 5.93 | $39.34 |
| Scott County Public Library | Georgetown | 60,168 | 3.06 | 4.78 | $46.17 |
| Pike County Public Library District | Pikeville | 55,973 | 1.74 | 6.19 | $45.18 |
| Jessamine County Public Library | Nicholasville | 55,017 | 3.74 | 9.42 | $89.29 |
| Franklin County District Public Library | Frankfort | 51,644 | 2.55 | 5.58 | $59.46 |
| Shelby County Library District | Shelbyville | 49,515 | 0.30 | 1.39 | $27.47 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 117 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Corbin Public Library · 5.87
- Menifee County Public Library · 5.80
- Lawrence County Public Library · 5.48
- Breathitt County Public Library · 5.28
- Rowan County Public Library · 4.98
Checkouts per resident
- Leslie County Public Library · 20.96
- Hart County Public Library · 12.64
- Washington County Public Library · 11.52
- Lexington Public Library · 10.71
- Jessamine County Public Library · 9.42
Spending per resident
- Hancock County Public Library · $91.93
- Jessamine County Public Library · $89.29
- Carroll County Public Library District · $87.07
- Trimble County Public Library · $83.48
- Kenton County Public Library · $79.98
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $255 million across the 120 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other