Public library systems in Maine
The 228 profiled public library systems in Maine served 1.2 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 3.99 visits and 4.57 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 8th and 26th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $50.53 per resident (24th nationally). Local government supplied 73% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 1%.
The largest system is Portland Public Library, serving 69,104 residents. At the end of the year, 88% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the nonprofit association library (124 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Maine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Public Library | Portland | 69,104 | 5.50 | 5.51 | $86.03 |
| Lewiston Public Library | Lewiston | 38,404 | 1.16 | 1.94 | $46.16 |
| Bangor Public Library | Bangor | 31,628 | 5.84 | 6.51 | $92.61 |
| North Gorham Public Library | Gorham | 29,167 | 0.07 | 0.06 | $0.75 |
| Auburn Public Library | Auburn | 27,590 | 3.04 | 5.21 | $50.62 |
| Curtis Memorial Library | Brunswick | 27,468 | 9.71 | 11.31 | $83.62 |
| South Portland Public Library | South Portland | 26,840 | 1.78 | 6.43 | $36.94 |
| Scarborough Public Library | Scarborough | 23,656 | 4.96 | 6.77 | $58.57 |
| McArthur Public Library | Biddeford | 22,367 | 3.30 | 3.28 | $58.82 |
| Goodall Memorial Library | Sanford | 22,251 | 2.44 | 1.96 | $26.90 |
| Springvale Public Library | Springvale | 22,251 | 3.23 | 1.72 | $15.15 |
| Gardiner Public Library | Gardiner | 21,559 | 1.84 | 2.87 | $27.42 |
| Dyer Library | Saco | 20,960 | 5.43 | 5.18 | $34.17 |
| Walker Memorial Library | Westbrook | 20,564 | 2.47 | 2.93 | $35.65 |
| Windham Public Library | Windham | 19,658 | 2.53 | 3.89 | $39.12 |
| Lithgow Public Library | Augusta | 19,102 | 4.74 | 6.23 | $49.70 |
| Baxter Memorial Library | Gorham | 18,346 | 3.92 | 5.33 | $39.78 |
| Ellsworth Public Library | Ellsworth | 17,016 | 3.86 | 6.06 | $41.14 |
| Waterville Public Library | Waterville | 16,823 | 2.30 | 4.10 | $57.14 |
| Kennebunk Free Library | Kennebunk | 16,386 | 3.64 | 5.45 | $63.81 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 82 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Camden Public Library · 37.37
- Belfast Free Library · 17.63
- Blue Hill Public Library · 14.16
- Rockland Public Library · 13.16
- Thomas Memorial Library · 10.95
Checkouts per resident
- Camden Public Library · 16.03
- Belfast Free Library · 14.05
- Blue Hill Public Library · 11.65
- Curtis Memorial Library · 11.31
- Paris Public Library · 10.94
Spending per resident
- Camden Public Library · $229.21
- Jesup Memorial Library · $149.55
- Blue Hill Public Library · $118.96
- Belfast Free Library · $113.13
- Thomas Memorial Library · $99.23
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $63.9 million across the 228 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other