Public library systems in South Dakota
The 101 profiled public library systems in South Dakota served 816,802 residents in FY 2024 and logged 3.36 visits and 5.34 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 17th and 20th among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $41.79 per resident (33rd nationally). Local government supplied 97% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 0%.
The largest system is Siouxland Libraries, serving 255,913 residents; 2 systems serve 100,000 or more. At the end of the year, 72% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the municipal library (68 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one South Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siouxland Libraries | Sioux Falls | 255,913 | 3.35 | 5.95 | $43.13 |
| Rapid City Public Library | Rapid City | 112,937 | 2.57 | 5.66 | $36.14 |
| K.o. Lee Aberdeen Public Library | Aberdeen | 28,110 | 5.53 | 6.44 | $50.92 |
| Brookings Public Library | Brookings | 24,312 | 3.77 | 8.10 | $55.53 |
| Watertown Regional Library | Watertown | 23,230 | 3.91 | 7.18 | $47.78 |
| Sinte Gleska University Library | Mission | 21,045 | 0.47 | 0.04 | $13.53 |
| Grace Balloch Memorial Library | Spearfish | 20,785 | 2.94 | 6.07 | $30.46 |
| Sturgis Public Library | Sturgis | 20,575 | 2.06 | 1.72 | $20.23 |
| Oglala Lakota College Woksape Tipi Academic & Public Library | Kyle | 19,950 | 0.01 | 0.02 | $19.88 |
| R. E. Rawlins Municipal Library | Pierre | 16,055 | 4.25 | 5.60 | $56.85 |
| Yankton Community Library | Yankton | 15,630 | 6.81 | 6.56 | $55.06 |
| Mitchell Public Library | Mitchell | 15,621 | 3.51 | 6.55 | $51.14 |
| Huron Public Library | Huron | 14,618 | 6.01 | 10.37 | $72.47 |
| Hamlin-Codington Regional Library | Watertown | 12,192 | 0.26 | 0.55 | $9.39 |
| Edith B Siegrist Vermillion Public Library | Vermillion | 12,011 | 5.42 | 5.99 | $68.59 |
| Sisseton Wahpeton Community College Library | Sisseton | 11,095 | 0.10 | 0.06 | $2.73 |
| Tea Community Library | Tea | 9,673 | 0.22 | 0.09 | $7.39 |
| Harrisburg Community Library | Harrisburg | 9,435 | 1.50 | 4.21 | $21.22 |
| Piedmont Valley Library | Piedmont | 9,352 | 1.88 | 3.06 | $10.00 |
| Custer County Library | Custer | 9,117 | 3.69 | 5.74 | $34.41 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 27 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Yankton Community Library · 6.81
- Madison Public Library · 6.35
- Huron Public Library · 6.01
- K.o. Lee Aberdeen Public Library · 5.53
- Edith B Siegrist Vermillion Public Library · 5.42
Checkouts per resident
- Huron Public Library · 10.37
- Brookings Public Library · 8.10
- Watertown Regional Library · 7.18
- Tripp County Library-Grossenburg Memorial · 7.14
- Belle Fourche Public Library · 6.65
Spending per resident
- Madison Public Library · $101.88
- Huron Public Library · $72.47
- Edith B Siegrist Vermillion Public Library · $68.59
- R. E. Rawlins Municipal Library · $56.85
- Brookings Public Library · $55.53
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $35.9 million across the 101 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other