Public library systems in Rhode Island
The 45 profiled public library systems in Rhode Island served 1 million residents in FY 2024 and logged 3.33 visits and 4.50 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 18th and 27th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $58.44 per resident (17th nationally). Local government supplied 63% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 19%.
The largest system is Community Libraries of Providence, serving 131,744 residents. At the end of the year, 67% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the nonprofit association library (25 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Rhode Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Libraries of Providence | Providence | 131,744 | 3.70 | 2.37 | $46.85 |
| Cranston Public Library | Cranston | 82,934 | 2.84 | 5.28 | $48.27 |
| Pawtucket Public Library | Pawtucket | 75,604 | 1.61 | 1.37 | $34.88 |
| Warwick Public Library | Warwick | 73,192 | 3.17 | 5.10 | $61.93 |
| Providence Public Library | Providence | 59,190 | 1.50 | 1.71 | $152.70 |
| East Providence Public Library | East Providence | 47,139 | 3.30 | 4.73 | $53.66 |
| Woonsocket Harris Public Library | Woonsocket | 43,240 | 2.22 | 1.47 | $28.82 |
| Cumberland Public Library | Cumberland | 36,405 | 3.52 | 6.42 | $52.78 |
| Coventry Public Library | Coventry | 35,688 | 2.24 | 3.75 | $37.98 |
| South Kingstown Public Library | South Kingstown | 31,931 | 2.84 | 5.80 | $43.64 |
| West Warwick Public Library | West Warwick | 31,012 | 2.31 | 2.97 | $38.33 |
| Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library | Johnston | 29,568 | 0.73 | 1.78 | $22.47 |
| Newport Public Library | Newport | 25,163 | 8.56 | 6.45 | $107.03 |
| Westerly Public Library | Westerly | 23,359 | 9.73 | 7.21 | $116.38 |
| Lincoln Public Library | Lincoln | 22,529 | 3.41 | 7.05 | $60.27 |
| Rogers Free Library | Bristol | 22,493 | 3.77 | 4.75 | $51.74 |
| North Kingstown Free Library | North Kingstown | 19,821 | 5.05 | 12.28 | $83.87 |
| Portsmouth Free Public Library | Portsmouth | 17,871 | 3.83 | 4.94 | $41.83 |
| Barrington Public Library | Barrington | 17,153 | 8.84 | 15.01 | $104.28 |
| Middletown Public Library | Middletown | 17,075 | 5.55 | 5.35 | $53.57 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 37 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Westerly Public Library · 9.73
- Barrington Public Library · 8.84
- Newport Public Library · 8.56
- Cross' Mills Public Library · 7.31
- Greenville Public Library · 5.56
Checkouts per resident
- Barrington Public Library · 15.01
- North Kingstown Free Library · 12.28
- East Greenwich Free Library · 9.98
- Cross' Mills Public Library · 8.92
- Maury Loontjens Memorial Library (Narragansett) · 8.65
Spending per resident
- Providence Public Library · $152.70
- Westerly Public Library · $116.38
- Jamestown Philomenian Library · $107.82
- Newport Public Library · $107.03
- Barrington Public Library · $104.28
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $61.9 million across the 45 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other