Public library systems in New Hampshire
The 194 profiled public library systems in New Hampshire served 1.3 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 3.69 visits and 4.87 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 12th and 24th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $57.61 per resident (20th nationally). Local government supplied 94% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 0%.
The largest system is Manchester City Library, serving 116,161 residents. At the end of the year, 89% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the municipal library (190 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one New Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City Library | Manchester | 116,161 | 1.28 | 1.91 | $30.44 |
| Nashua Public Library | Nashua | 92,515 | 1.96 | 2.95 | $38.81 |
| Concord Public Library | Concord | 44,111 | 5.42 | 3.83 | $49.66 |
| Derry Public Library | Derry | 34,627 | 3.63 | 4.23 | $43.09 |
| Taylor Library | East Derry | 34,627 | 1.13 | 0.39 | $5.64 |
| Dover Public Library | Dover | 33,234 | 4.11 | 5.25 | $54.52 |
| Rochester Public Library | Rochester | 33,018 | 3.56 | 3.27 | $45.34 |
| Kelley Library | Salem | 30,705 | 2.77 | 2.37 | $51.67 |
| Merrimack Public Library | Merrimack | 28,565 | 2.57 | 5.00 | $44.08 |
| Leach Library | Londonderry | 26,793 | 2.87 | 5.10 | $57.85 |
| George H. and Ella M. Rodgers Memorial Library | Hudson | 25,910 | 2.71 | 3.21 | $48.04 |
| Bedford Public Library | Bedford | 23,824 | 4.85 | 13.24 | $68.60 |
| Keene Public Library | Keene | 22,535 | 4.24 | 5.98 | $112.00 |
| Portsmouth Public Library | Portsmouth | 22,175 | 8.06 | 11.70 | $109.00 |
| Goffstown Public Library | Goffstown | 18,656 | 2.32 | 3.83 | $51.30 |
| Laconia Public Library | Laconia | 17,103 | 6.80 | 4.51 | $53.24 |
| William Y. Wadleigh Memorial Library | Milford | 16,590 | 3.77 | 6.17 | $76.32 |
| Lane Memorial Library | Hampton | 16,482 | 4.85 | 6.28 | $59.91 |
| Nesmith Library | Windham | 16,138 | 3.79 | 9.99 | $74.29 |
| Hooksett Public Library | Hooksett | 15,084 | 4.95 | 10.69 | $73.48 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 67 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Gilford Public Library · 11.29
- Wolfeboro Public Library · 10.00
- Peterborough Town Library · 9.52
- Rye Public Library · 8.29
- Newmarket Public Library · 8.25
Checkouts per resident
- Amherst Town Library · 13.27
- Bedford Public Library · 13.24
- Portsmouth Public Library · 11.70
- Hopkinton Town Library · 10.93
- Hooksett Public Library · 10.69
Spending per resident
- Howe Library · $155.07
- Rye Public Library · $139.79
- Meredith Public Library · $121.90
- Peterborough Town Library · $113.10
- Keene Public Library · $112.00
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $71.4 million across the 186 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other