Public library systems in Maryland
The 24 profiled public library systems in Maryland served 6.2 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 2.79 visits and 6.08 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 31st and 11th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $60.17 per resident (15th nationally). Local government supplied 71% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 17%.
The largest system is Montgomery County Public Libraries, serving 1,054,827 residents; 14 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 county library (23 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Maryland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County Public Libraries | Rockville | 1,054,827 | 3.36 | 6.90 | $44.50 |
| Prince George's County Memorial Library System | Largo | 955,306 | 1.42 | 1.80 | $41.80 |
| Baltimore County Public Library | Towson | 849,316 | 3.03 | 8.09 | $63.59 |
| Anne Arundel County Public Library | Annapolis | 590,336 | 2.69 | 6.31 | $56.80 |
| Enoch Pratt Free Library | Baltimore | 576,498 | 2.07 | 2.18 | $92.89 |
| Howard County Library System | Ellicott City | 334,529 | 4.70 | 12.51 | $89.12 |
| Frederick County Public Libraries | Frederick | 279,835 | 3.66 | 8.32 | $69.33 |
| Harford County Public Library | Belcamp | 262,977 | 2.95 | 8.70 | $93.48 |
| Carroll County Public Library | New Windsor | 173,873 | 4.05 | 15.32 | $74.07 |
| Charles County Public Library | LA Plata | 168,698 | 1.99 | 3.43 | $43.81 |
| Washington County Free Library | Hagerstown | 154,937 | 2.38 | 3.25 | $33.31 |
| St. Mary's County Library | Leonardtown | 114,468 | 2.75 | 6.98 | $45.53 |
| Wicomico County Free Library | Salisbury | 103,980 | 1.63 | 2.72 | $29.49 |
| Cecil County Public Library | North East | 103,905 | 2.77 | 6.41 | $79.44 |
| Calvert Library | Prince Frederick | 93,928 | 3.72 | 7.98 | $82.10 |
| Allegany County Library System | Cumberland | 67,729 | 2.04 | 3.25 | $38.36 |
| Worcester County Library | Snow Hill | 53,132 | 5.69 | 6.40 | $79.84 |
| Queen Anne's County Free Library | Centreville | 50,798 | 2.60 | 5.62 | $62.21 |
| Talbot County Free Library | Easton | 37,626 | 3.29 | 5.52 | $66.22 |
| Caroline County Public Library | Denton | 33,386 | 2.91 | 2.91 | $58.76 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 24 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Worcester County Library · 5.69
- Howard County Library System · 4.70
- Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County · 4.14
- Carroll County Public Library · 4.05
- Kent County Public Library · 3.92
Checkouts per resident
Spending per resident
- Harford County Public Library · $93.48
- Enoch Pratt Free Library · $92.89
- Howard County Library System · $89.12
- Calvert Library · $82.10
- Worcester County Library · $79.84
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $383 million across the 24 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other
More system profiles
- Dorchester County Public Library · Cambridge