Public library systems in Michigan
The 368 profiled public library systems in Michigan served 9.8 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 2.95 visits and 5.40 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 29th and 18th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $51.25 per resident (22nd nationally). Local government supplied 91% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 3%.
The largest system is Detroit Public Library, serving 639,111 residents; 20 systems serve 100,000 or more. At the end of the year, 61% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the municipal library (184 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Public Library | Detroit | 639,111 | 0.54 | 0.27 | $48.30 |
| Kent District Library | Comstock Park | 439,194 | 5.18 | 11.80 | $70.65 |
| Genesee District Library | Flint | 334,645 | 2.06 | 1.87 | $27.33 |
| Capital Area District Library | Lansing | 244,451 | 3.08 | 6.76 | $54.51 |
| Grand Rapids Public Library | Grand Rapids | 198,917 | 2.49 | 3.88 | $66.35 |
| Clinton-Macomb Public Library | Clinton Township | 184,879 | 2.32 | 6.89 | $39.68 |
| Ann Arbor District Library | Ann Arbor | 177,696 | 8.13 | 26.35 | $106.38 |
| Jackson District Library | Jackson | 160,366 | 2.44 | 7.95 | $57.34 |
| Saint Clair County Library System | Port Huron | 157,616 | 1.46 | 2.24 | $36.83 |
| Monroe County Library System | Monroe | 152,595 | 2.68 | 4.34 | $52.21 |
| Warren Public Library | Warren | 139,387 | 1.53 | 3.83 | $36.38 |
| Sterling Heights Public Library | Sterling Heights | 134,346 | 1.33 | 2.61 | $22.75 |
| Kalamazoo Public Library | Kalamazoo | 127,924 | 2.81 | 9.11 | $112.56 |
| Public Libraries of Saginaw | Saginaw | 117,256 | 2.05 | 1.90 | $28.37 |
| Dearborn Public Library | Dearborn | 109,976 | 1.98 | 2.09 | $59.22 |
| Rochester Hills Public Library | Rochester | 109,402 | 3.85 | 10.76 | $44.11 |
| Herrick District Library | Holland | 109,385 | 3.37 | 7.91 | $60.97 |
| Muskegon Area District Library | Muskegon | 107,920 | 2.60 | 4.12 | $43.41 |
| Traverse Area District Library | Traverse City | 106,726 | 3.40 | 8.56 | $55.82 |
| Bay County Library System | Bay City | 103,758 | 2.29 | 5.42 | $62.46 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 281 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Frankenmuth James E. Wickson District Library · 20.16
- Caro Area District Library · 15.17
- New Buffalo Township Public Library · 12.50
- Charlevoix Public Library · 10.64
- Boyne District Library · 10.50
Checkouts per resident
- Ann Arbor District Library · 26.35
- Dexter District Library · 19.01
- West Bloomfield Township Public Library · 17.60
- Fremont Area District Library · 16.33
- Patmos Library · 15.74
Spending per resident
- Southfield Public Library · $220.07
- Bloomfield Township Public Library · $150.35
- Charlevoix Public Library · $125.00
- Ferndale Area District Library · $123.35
- Chelsea District Library · $122.53
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $576 million across the 367 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other