Washington ranks third in U.S. for library checkouts
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In case you needed more evidence that we're a state full of bookworms: Washington ranks third in the nation for public library checkouts per person, federal data shows.
Why it matters: Libraries remain a heavily used public resource in Washington, whether readers are borrowing from shelves or screens.
By the numbers: Washington residents averaged more than 11 public library checkouts per person in fiscal year 2024, according to a survey by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
- That's far above the nationwide average of 6.5.
- The figures include physical items and electronic materials like e-books.
Zoom in: Seattle's checkout rate is even higher, at about 16 items per city resident last year, according to data the Seattle Public Library shared with Axios.
- The estimate isn't exact because some checkouts are by people who live outside Seattle.
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.
The rise of digital checkouts is also on display in Seattle.
- Checkouts of physical items fell from 7.8 million in 2019 to 5.5 million last year.
- Digital circulation rose from 4.8 million to 7.2 million over the same period.
- The shift helped push total circulation slightly above pre-pandemic levels.
The bottom line: Our library habits have changed since 2019, but demand hasn't faded.