Number of Libraries in the US

With the emergence of the digital age, where more and more goods are moved online, the overall trend in the book publishing and distribution market is generally not kind to physical stores. We’ve seen the number of bookstores decline over the years, and the bookstore and physical book sales decline as well.

Libraries are one of the rare physical aspects of the book market that’s still managing to maintain its presence in the United States. We’ve compiled historical data on the number of libraries in the US over time and are now delivering this detailed report that shows how libraries cope with the digital revolution.

How many libraries are in the US?

• As of 2020, there are 17,454 public libraries in the United States, including central and branch libraries, as well as mobile libraries (bookmobiles).
• There are approximately 0.1% fewer libraries in the US compared to 2019, which shows that libraries were able to stay afloat during the lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.
• There is almost the same number of public libraries in the US in 2020 as in 2010, around 270 more compared to 200 and around 500 more compared to 1992.
• Overall, the number of public libraries in the United States hasn’t changed much over time, but the historical figures show an upward trend.

Year	Number of public libraries in the US	Change
2020	17,454	-0.08%
2019	17,468	0.10%
2018	17,450	0.30%
2017	17,397	-0.05%
2016	17,405	0.21%
2015	17,368	-0.07%
2014	17,381	0.17%
2013	17,351	-0.11%
2012	17,370	-0.17%
2011	17,400	-0.30%
2010	17,453	-0.09%
2009	17,469	0.01%
2008	17,468	0.32%
2007	17,412	0.01%
2006	17,411	0.25%
2005	17,368	-0.14%
2004	17,393	-0.07%
2003	17,405	0.28%
2002	17,356	0.34%
2001	17,297	0.66%
2000	17,183	0.33%
1999	17,127	0.08%
1998	17,113	0.45%
1997	17,037	0.14%
1996	17,013	0.24%
1995	16,972	0.37%
1994	16,910	-0.17%
1993	16,939	-0.21%
1992	16,974

US public libraries are divided into three main categories: central libraries (or main libraries), branch libraries, and mobile libraries, also known as bookmobiles. Their number changed over the years, with branch libraries growing while bookmobiles faced a significant decrease.

• There are 9,049 central public libraries in the United States as of 2020, accounting for 51.84% of the total public libraries.
• 44.26% of the US public libraries are branch libraries, counting 7,726 units as of 2020.
• Bookmobiles account for 3.89% of the total public library count in the States, and in 2020 there were 679 mobile libraries operational.
• There are 9 fewer central public libraries in the US in 2020 compared to 2010, 133 more compared to 2000, and 176 more compared to 1992.
• As for branch libraries, their number has grown by 67 units since 2010, 343 units since 2000, and 691 units since 1992.
• Bookmobiles have declined significantly over the years – 57 fewer mobile units since 2010, 205 fewer since 2000, and 387 fewer since 1992.

Year	Central libraries	Branch libraries	Bookmobiles	Share of central	Share of branch	Share of bookmobiles
2020	9,049	7,726	679	51.84%	44.26%	3.89%
2019	9,064	7,733	671	51.89%	44.27%	3.84%
2018	9,074	7,712	664	52.00%	44.19%	3.81%
2017	9,038	7,687	672	51.95%	44.19%	3.86%
2016	9,059	7,687	659	52.05%	44.17%	3.79%
2015	9,052	7,669	647	52.12%	44.16%	3.73%
2014	9,053	7,669	659	52.09%	44.12%	3.79%
2013	9,042	7,640	669	52.11%	44.03%	3.86%
2012	9,045	7,642	683	52.07%	44.00%	3.93%
2011	9,050	7,654	696	52.01%	43.99%	4.00%
2010	9,058	7,659	736	51.90%	43.88%	4.22%
2009	9,046	7,652	771	51.78%	43.80%	4.41%
2008	9,042	7,629	797	51.76%	43.67%	4.56%
2007	9,040	7,564	808	51.92%	43.44%	4.64%
2006	9,050	7,542	819	51.98%	43.32%	4.70%
2005	9,040	7,503	825	52.05%	43.20%	4.75%
2004	9,047	7,502	844	52.02%	43.13%	4.85%
2003	9,062	7,479	864	52.07%	42.97%	4.96%
2002	8,985	7,499	872	51.77%	43.21%	5.02%
2001	8,970	7,449	878	51.86%	43.07%	5.08%
2000	8,916	7,383	884	51.89%	42.97%	5.14%
1999	8,883	7,337	907	51.87%	42.84%	5.30%
1998	8,887	7,293	933	51.93%	42.62%	5.45%
1997	8,943	7,147	947	52.49%	41.95%	5.56%
1996	8,923	7,124	966	52.45%	41.87%	5.68%
1995	8,937	7,057	978	52.66%	41.58%	5.76%
1994	8,886	7,027	997	52.55%	41.56%	5.90%
1993	8,887	7,017	1,035	52.46%	41.43%	6.11%
1992	8,873	7,035	1,066	52.27%	41.45%	6.28%

Number of public libraries by state

A closer look at the individual states shows a certain disproportion between the population and the number of available public libraries for some states. It’s also interesting to look at the different ratios of library types among states.

• With 1,226 public libraries operating as of 2020, California is the state with the most libraries in the US.
• New York is the only remaining state with more than 1,000 public libraries opened (1,083).
• Texas (893), Illinois (792), and Ohio (777) complete the top 5 states with the most public libraries.
• Top 10 states contain 43.9% of the US public libraries. However, these states also have 50.1% of the country’s population, so one could say that they lack libraries compared to the national average.

Rank	State	# of Central Libraries	# of Branch Libraries	# of Bookmobiles	Total Libraries	Share of total libraries
1	California	199	973	54	1,226	7.02%
2	New York	755	314	14	1,083	6.20%
3	Texas	553	327	13	893	5.12%
4	Illinois	623	152	17	792	4.54%
5	Ohio	239	483	55	777	4.45%
6	Michigan	393	254	10	657	3.76%
7	Pennsylvania	443	175	21	639	3.66%
8	Iowa	543	24	4	571	3.27%
9	Florida	56	480	21	557	3.19%
10	Massachusetts	369	92	6	467	2.68%

• With only 27 public libraries available as of 2020, DC is the US state with the lowest number of libraries in the country.
• Delaware is the only remaining US state with less than 50 public libraries on disposal (35).
• 6 other states (North Dakota, Alaska, Nevada, Wyoming, Rhode Island, and Hawaii) have under 100 public libraries operational.
• The bottom 10 states, in terms of public library count, contain 4.5% of the country’s total. At the same time, these 10 states also have only 3.7% of the US population.

Rank	State	# of Central Libraries	# of Branch Libraries	# of Bookmobiles	Total Libraries	Share of total libraries
42	New Mexico	98	28	1	127	0.73%
43	Montana	82	34	8	124	0.71%
44	North Dakota	79	8	10	97	0.56%
45	Alaska	79	15	1	95	0.54%
46	Nevada	20	64	4	88	0.50%
47	Wyoming	23	51	2	76	0.44%
48	Rhode Island	47	24	2	73	0.42%
49	Hawaii	1	50	2	53	0.30%
50	Delaware	19	14	2	35	0.20%
51	District of Columbia	1	26	0	27	0.15%

Public libraries per capita

While the number of public libraries in the US remained pretty much consistent over the last 30 years, the population these libraries need to serve changed. This means that, over the years, the average US library needs to

• As of 2020, one public library is available per every 18,779 US citizens.
• This is the highest number of Americans one library needs to serve at least over the last 30 years.
• In 2012, there was one public library for every 17,947 Americans, in 2002 there was a library for every 16,312, and in 1992 one for every 14,789.
• This means that the average public library in the US needs to provide services for 4.64% more potential users in 2020 compared to 2012, 15.1% more compared to 2002, and 27% more compared to 1992.

Year	Number of public libraries	Population	Citizens per library
2020	17,454	327,772,870	18,779
2019	17,468	326,338,129	18,682
2018	17,450	324,554,447	18,599
2017	17,397	322,199,428	18,520
2016	17,405	320,458,423	18,412
2015	17,368	318,178,876	18,320
2014	17,381	315,957,322	18,178
2013	17,351	313,853,706	18,089
2012	17,370	311,741,221	17,947
2011	17,400	308,822,645	17,748
2010	17,453	307,443,256	17,615
2009	17,469	305,036,169	17,462
2008	17,468	302,863,960	17,338
2007	17,412	300,008,277	17,230
2006	17,411	296,761,243	17,044
2005	17,368	294,130,895	16,935
2004	17,393	290,795,053	16,719
2003	17,405	287,866,540	16,539
2002	17,356	283,107,941	16,312
2001	17,297	281,097,611	16,251
2000	17,183	273,694,205	15,928
1999	17,127	270,038,505	15,767
1998	17,113	266,334,233	15,563
1997	17,037	263,833,879	15,486
1996	17,013	260,260,809	15,298
1995	16,972	258,054,304	15,205
1994	16,910	256,237,331	15,153
1993	16,939	254,719,213	15,037
1992	16,974	251,035,492	14,789

• Florida has one public library available per 38,772 of its residents, which is the highest mark in the country.
• Four other states have over 30,000 citizens per public library: Nevada (35,374), Texas (32,470), California (32,449), and Arizona (31,578).
• On the other side of the spectrum, Vermont has one public library available per 3,286 citizens, the best citizens per library ratio in the US.
• Only 11 US states have fewer than 10,000 citizens per public library, and these 11 states account for only 4.5% of the country’s population.

Number of academic and school libraries in the US

• There are around 3,697 academic libraries in the US as of 2019. Approximately 1,560 of those are public, 1,584 are a private non-profit, and 553 are private for-profit.
• The number of academic libraries in the US has declined over the last several years and peaked in 2015 when there were over 4,134 units available.
• However, the number of academic institutions also declined over this period. In 2019, over 92.8% of academic institutions had a library available. In 2015, around 90.2% of them had a library, and in 2012 only 80% of academic institutions had one.
• As for primary and secondary education, there are around 82,300 US schools with libraries as of 2015.
• 91% of the country’s schools have a library available to the students.
• Of this number, 59,500 libraries are located in elementary schools. Over 95.4% of US elementary schools have a library.
• 16,300 of the country’s secondary schools have a library, 82% of the total.