Utah ranks second in the U.S. for library use
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Utah ranks second in the nation for public library use, with more than 11 checkouts per person, federal data shows.
The big picture: Cultural factors and large household sizes may contribute to why Utahns check out more books than people in other states.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints places a strong emphasis on lifelong learning and self-improvement.
Utah also ranks No. 11 among the most-educated states in the U.S., according to WalletHub. Nearly 40% of Utahns over the age of 25 hold a bachelor's degree or higher, per census data.
- In 2024, Utah had the nation's largest families and the highest share of residents under 18.
The big picture: Public libraries nationwide reported 6.5 checkouts per person in FY 2024.
- That figure includes physical items and electronic materials like e-books.
The other side: West Virginia (3.5), Georgia (3.1) and Mississippi (1.9) saw the fewest library checkouts per person.
Between the lines: U.S. library circulation per person is rebounding from its pandemic-era drop, helped by a boom in digital borrowing.
- Electronic material checkouts reached a decade-high 2.1 per person in FY 2024, per IMLS.
- Physical checkouts remain twice as common, at 4.3 per person.
The bottom line: Take this as a reminder to finally get your library card — or return those expired books.