Public library systems in Ohio
The 249 profiled public library systems in Ohio served 11.7 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 4.12 visits and 9.28 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 4th and 2nd among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $81.42 per resident (3rd nationally). Local government supplied 48% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 43%.
The largest system is Columbus Metropolitan Library, serving 971,930 residents; 24 systems serve 100,000 or more. At the end of the year, 78% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the school-district library (145 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Ohio 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Metropolitan Library | Columbus | 971,930 | 5.63 | 9.76 | $85.18 |
| Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library | Cincinnati | 830,639 | 4.93 | 15.34 | $87.83 |
| Cuyahoga County Public Library | Parma | 626,288 | 6.26 | 11.75 | $119.50 |
| Dayton Metro Library | Dayton | 452,238 | 4.40 | 6.51 | $83.51 |
| Toledo-Lucas County Public Library | Toledo | 428,505 | 4.73 | 7.25 | $104.07 |
| Akron-Summit Cnty Public Library | Akron | 381,648 | 3.83 | 8.80 | $81.66 |
| Cleveland Public Library | Cleveland | 374,557 | 4.00 | 7.46 | $173.93 |
| Stark County District Library | Canton | 241,356 | 2.75 | 6.77 | $69.62 |
| Youngstown and Mahoning County, Pl of | Youngstown | 226,005 | 2.98 | 4.64 | $89.08 |
| Clermont County Public Library | Milford | 208,601 | 1.96 | 6.42 | $40.90 |
| Midpointe Library System | Middletown | 202,986 | 3.27 | 7.49 | $50.01 |
| Lane Public Library | Hamilton | 187,371 | 3.00 | 7.62 | $44.28 |
| Greene County Public Library | Xenia | 167,966 | 2.55 | 11.75 | $80.37 |
| Delaware County District Library | Delaware | 165,831 | 2.94 | 9.18 | $51.54 |
| Medina County District Library | Medina | 153,551 | 3.69 | 12.21 | $69.66 |
| Southwest Public Libraries | Grove City | 147,074 | 2.07 | 5.69 | $50.44 |
| Lorain Public Library | Lorain | 145,206 | 3.10 | 6.47 | $92.58 |
| Warren-Trumbull County Public Library | Warren | 142,591 | 3.05 | 3.94 | $55.63 |
| Clark County Public Library | Springfield | 129,685 | 2.69 | 3.76 | $83.38 |
| Licking County Library | Newark | 118,136 | 1.85 | 5.91 | $48.42 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 216 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Hudson Library and Historical Society · 23.42
- Grandview Heights Public Library · 15.77
- Way Public Library · 15.25
- Wright Memorial Public Library · 13.10
- Upper Arlington Public Library · 12.96
Checkouts per resident
- Grandview Heights Public Library · 46.15
- Hudson Library and Historical Society · 34.89
- Twinsburg Public Library · 33.77
- Orrville Public Library · 33.42
- Upper Arlington Public Library · 31.10
Spending per resident
- Grandview Heights Public Library · $395.38
- Rocky River Public Library · $231.05
- Bexley Public Library · $218.94
- Wright Memorial Public Library · $209.64
- Upper Arlington Public Library · $198.70
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $1.1 billion across the 248 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other
More system profiles
- Worthington Public Library · Worthington
- Lepper Library · Lisbon