Public library systems in Vermont
The 134 profiled public library systems in Vermont served 548,813 residents in FY 2024 and logged 4.56 visits and 5.19 physical checkouts per resident, which ranks 2nd and 22nd among the 50 states and DC. Operating spending came to $58.17 per resident (18th nationally). Local government supplied 74% of operating revenue, against 85% for all profiled systems nationwide, and the state government 2%.
The largest system is Fletcher Free, serving 44,649 residents. At the end of the year, 96% of the state's profiled systems charged no overdue fines on print items. The most common legal form is the municipal library (77 systems).
Visits per resident, system by system
Each dot is one Vermont 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fletcher Free | Burlington | 44,649 | 3.78 | 5.21 | $60.80 |
| South Burlington | S. Burlington | 20,488 | 5.66 | 9.12 | $50.17 |
| Kellogg-Hubbard | Montpelier | 18,225 | 6.86 | 9.78 | $60.19 |
| Burnham Memorial | Colchester | 17,570 | 2.80 | 4.01 | $48.67 |
| Aldrich Public | Barre | 16,435 | 4.22 | 3.61 | $46.77 |
| Bennington Free | Bennington | 16,261 | 5.03 | 2.04 | $39.74 |
| St. Albans Free | St. Albans | 13,946 | 3.45 | 2.47 | $34.34 |
| Brooks Memorial | Brattleboro | 12,152 | 9.62 | 10.54 | $89.18 |
| Essex Free | Essex | 11,486 | 2.63 | 4.34 | $43.69 |
| Milton Public | Milton | 10,723 | 3.14 | 3.78 | $28.03 |
| Brownell | Essex Junction | 10,720 | 6.65 | 8.30 | $93.98 |
| Dorothy Alling Memorial | Williston | 10,541 | 5.74 | 10.11 | $84.39 |
| Cobleigh Public | Lyndonville | 9,807 | 1.54 | 3.05 | $30.99 |
| Ilsley Public | Middlebury | 9,157 | 13.11 | 9.97 | $112.18 |
| Springfield Town | Springfield | 9,088 | 2.57 | 2.82 | $76.34 |
| Winooski Memorial | Winooski | 8,198 | 1.46 | 1.41 | $27.41 |
| Pierson | Shelburne | 7,807 | 15.00 | 10.46 | $76.51 |
| Bixby Memorial | Vergennes | 7,517 | 3.44 | 3.66 | $51.30 |
| St. Johnsbury Athenaeum | St. Johnsbury | 7,381 | 5.15 | 3.87 | $87.49 |
| Haskell Free | Derby Line | 7,109 | 2.36 | 2.19 | $37.85 |
Highest rates among systems serving 5,000 or more
Of the state's profiled systems, 33 serve at least 5,000 residents.
Visits per resident
- Pierson · 15.00
- Ilsley Public · 13.11
- Stowe Free · 10.72
- Brooks Memorial · 9.62
- Brandon Free Public · 9.20
Checkouts per resident
- Stowe Free · 14.82
- Brooks Memorial · 10.54
- Pierson · 10.46
- Dorothy Alling Memorial · 10.11
- Ilsley Public · 9.97
Spending per resident
- Ilsley Public · $112.18
- Stowe Free · $99.82
- Brownell · $93.98
- Brooks Memorial · $89.18
- St. Johnsbury Athenaeum · $87.49
Revenue mix
Combined operating revenue of $33.2 million across the 134 systems that reported every revenue source.
- Local government
- State
- Federal
- Other