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Quick answer: U.S. public libraries are recovering from the pandemic: the Institute of Museum and Library Services reports median visits per person rose from 0.4 in fiscal 2021 to 2.8 in fiscal 2023, and electronic circulation is up 84% since fiscal 2018. The NEA found 23% of adults visited a public library in the 2022 survey.
Quick facts
IMLS: median visits per person 0.4 (FY2021), 2.5 (FY2022), 2.8 (FY2023)
IMLS: electronic circulation up 84% since FY2018
IMLS: libraries offered over 2.5 times more programs in FY2023 than FY2021
IMLS: 90% of libraries closed buildings at some point in FY2020, 15% in FY2022
NEA (2022): 23% of adults visited a public library
Public libraries are among the most used community institutions, but their numbers shifted dramatically during and after the pandemic. Buildings closed, digital borrowing surged and services adapted. This guide summarizes the most reliable recent statistics on library use from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Endowment for the Arts, explains the recovery since 2021 and what the data say about digital lending. We avoid unverified aggregator numbers and note where a figure covers a specific fiscal year. Library data lag by a year or two, so the newest figures describe fiscal 2023, the most recent year in IMLS’s May 2026 brief.
Table of Contents
How Many People Use Public Libraries?
The NEA’s 2022 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts found that 23% of U.S. adults visited a public library in the past 12 months. IMLS data count visits per person: the median library system reported 0.4 visits per person in fiscal 2021, 2.5 in fiscal 2022 and 2.8 in fiscal 2023, as buildings reopened and demand returned. The ‘median’ means half of library systems were above and half below that figure, so urban and rural differences matter.
How Did the Pandemic Change Libraries?
IMLS reports that 90% of public libraries closed their buildings at some point in fiscal 2020, falling to 57% in fiscal 2021 and 15% in fiscal 2022. Libraries expanded virtual reference, online card registration, curbside pickup and outdoor Wi-Fi. As buildings reopened, some of those services declined, while electronic materials circulation remained strong. By fiscal 2023 libraries were open nearly as many hours as in fiscal 2019.
How Much Has Digital Borrowing Grown?
IMLS reports that circulation of electronic materials has risen 84% since fiscal 2018, a steady upward trend that continued after buildings reopened. E-books and audiobooks through apps like Libby and Hoopla are a major part of that growth. Digital lending lets readers borrow from home, which helps people who live far from a branch or have limited mobility.
What About Programs and Events?
Libraries offered over 2.5 times more programs in fiscal 2023 than in fiscal 2021, and attendance approached pre-pandemic highs, according to IMLS. Programs include storytimes, book clubs, job help, tech classes and community events. The NEA’s 2022 survey also found that 5% of adults joined a book or reading group.
How Many Libraries Are There?
IMLS’s brief reflects over 9,000 library systems in fiscal 2023, with about 6% in cities, 26% in suburbs, 25% in towns and 43% in rural areas. Many rural libraries serve small populations with limited staff, which is why digital lending and resource sharing are important.
Why Are Library Statistics Hard to Compare?
Different sources report different measures, such as total visits, visits per person or median across systems. Aggregator websites often publish totals without clear sourcing, so be cautious. IMLS is the official federal source, and its Public Libraries Survey data files are public. When comparing years, check whether numbers are totals or medians and which fiscal year they cover.
What Does This Mean for Readers?
Libraries offer free print books, e-books, audiobooks and community programs. If you are not using yours, a library card is one of the cheapest ways to read more. You can place holds online, borrow digitally on a Kindle or phone and ask librarians for recommendations.
Sources and Notes
Sources include the IMLS brief Public Library Trends Between FY 2018 and FY 2023 (May 2026), IMLS’s Public Libraries Survey data, and the NEA’s 2022 SPPA analysis. Surveys differ in who they ask, how they word questions and what counts as a book, so figures from different sources rarely match exactly. Treat each number as a snapshot from the named survey and year, not as a universal truth. Percentages may have changed since these studies were published, and some sources revise earlier results.
Books About Libraries
Books can deepen your appreciation of libraries. The Library Book by Susan Orlean tells the story of the 1986 Los Angeles Public Library fire and the institution’s history. Free for All by Don Borchert is a funny memoir of working at a public library. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society celebrates reading communities. And The Midnight Library imagines a library of possible lives. Pick one up at your local branch and see what your library has to offer.
How to Get the Most From Your Public Library
Most libraries offer far more than books. Ask about digital loans, museum passes, tool lending, language-learning apps, free classes and meeting rooms. Use online holds to reserve popular titles, and set up e-mail alerts for new releases. Join a book club or attend a storytime. If your library does not own a book, request an interlibrary loan or suggest a purchase. Staff are usually happy to recommend books if you describe what you liked. A library card is free, and using it supports funding by showing demand.
Tips for Borrowing Digitally
To borrow e-books and audiobooks, create an account with your library card in Libby or Hoopla, and send e-books to a Kindle if your library supports it. Place holds early, since popular titles can have waitlists. Use ‘skip the line’ features, where offered, to take a later copy. Download titles to your device for offline reading. Return titles early when you are done to help others. If your local library’s collection is small, check whether a neighboring library or your state library offers cards to residents. With a little setup, you can have a huge library in your pocket.
How to Evaluate a Statistic About library use
Before you repeat any number you read about library use, ask five questions. Who ran the survey, and do they have a reason to prefer a particular result? When was it conducted, since habits and markets change quickly? How many people were asked, and were they chosen to represent the whole population? What exactly was measured, such as books read, hours spent or money spent? And how was the question worded? A small change in wording, like ‘read for pleasure’ versus ‘read any book,’ can swing a result by tens of percentage points. Look for the margin of error, which tells you how much a number could move if the survey were repeated. Prefer primary sources, such as the organization that did the research, over blog posts that repeat their figures.
Common Misconceptions About library use
Several myths circulate. One is that a single statistic proves a trend; in reality, trends need several data points over time. Another is that sales equal reading, when many books are bought and never finished, and library borrowing is missing from sales data. A third is that an average describes a typical person, when a few heavy users can lift the mean. A fourth is that survey respondents always report accurately; people tend to overstate socially desirable habits like reading. Finally, correlation is not causation: people who read more may also have more time, more education or more access to books. Keeping these in mind helps you read headlines with a clear head.
A Short Glossary for library use Statistics
A few terms come up often. The mean is the average, found by adding values and dividing by the count. The median is the middle value, which is often a better picture of a typical person when a few people have very high numbers. A sample is the group actually surveyed, and a representative sample is chosen to reflect the larger population. The margin of error is the range within which the true value probably falls. A trend compares the same measure across several years. A fiscal year is an organization’s accounting year, which may not match the calendar year. Knowing these words makes reports easier to follow.
How to Use These Numbers in Your Own Reading Life
Statistics are most useful when they prompt a small action. If you learn that most people read only a few books a year, you can feel good about a modest goal, such as one book a month. If you see that audiobooks and e-books are growing, you might try a format that fits your commute or bedtime. If library use is rebounding, check your local branch for new programs. A {reading journal|reading journal} helps you track what you read and how it feels. The point is not to compete with an average but to build a habit you enjoy and can keep.
Questions to Ask Next Time You See a Reading Statistic
When a headline claims that reading is collapsing or booming, pause and ask what is being compared. Is it this year against last year, or against a peak? Does the figure include audiobooks and library borrowing, or only print sales? Is it about adults, children or both? Which country does it cover? Does the writer give a link to the original report? If the answers are missing, treat the claim with caution. Good reporting names the source, the year and the measure, which is the standard this guide aims to meet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many people use public libraries?
The NEA found 23% of adults visited a public library in 2022; IMLS reports median visits per person at 2.8 in fiscal 2023.
Are libraries still popular after the pandemic?
Yes. Visits and programs have rebounded, and digital lending has grown 84% since fiscal 2018.
How many public libraries are there in the U.S.?
IMLS’s brief reflects over 9,000 library systems in fiscal 2023.
Do libraries lend e-books?
Yes, through apps such as Libby and Hoopla.
Why did libraries close in 2020?
90% closed buildings at some point in fiscal 2020 due to COVID-19.
Where can I find official library data?
The IMLS Public Libraries Survey.