Kansas public libraries

Another post commenting on Chapter 20 of Give Us a Dollar and We’ll Give You Back Four (2012-13)–now available as a $9.99 Kindle ebook or $21.95 paperback with ISBN 978-1481279161 on Amazon, along with the usual Lulu options.

The 306 libraries profiled in Kansas (22 omitted) are generally funded somewhat better than average, albeit not at the very high end: 56% spend between $31 and $72.99 per capita, compared to 40% overall. Even adjusted for Kansas’ somewhat low cost of living (91.7% of national average), the median benefit ratio in all spending categories is at least 4.3, and at least 5.5 for all but the best-funded libraries. Nearly half of the libraries (49%) circulate at least ten items per capita (compared to 38% nationally) and 48% have at least seven patron visits per capita (compared to 33% nationally). Except at the low end (the four lowest-spending libraries are circulating slightly more than those spending just slightly more), the budget table shows a consistent rise in median circulation for each expenditure category.

Program attendance is very strong, with 22% having at least 1.1 attendance per capita and 52% having at least 0.5 (compared to 9% and 33% overall). PC use is even stronger: 21% have at least 3.5 uses per capita (compared to 8% overall) and 54% have at least 1.7 (compared to 30% overall).

Libraries by legal service area

LSA Count % Outliers
<700 90 29.4% 21
700-1,149 42 13.7% 1
1,150-1,649 37 12.1%
1,650-2,249 32 10.5%
2,250-2,999 26 8.5%
3,000-3,999 13 4.2%
4,000-5,299 14 4.6%
5,300-6,799 6 2.0%
6,800-8,699 10 3.3%
8,700-11,099 10 3.3%
11,100-14,099 5 1.6%
14,100-18,499 2 0.7%
18,500-24,999 5 1.6%
25,000-34,499 3 1.9%
34,500-53,999 5 1.6%
54,000-104,999 1 0.3%
105,000-4.1 mill. 5 1.6%

Circulation per Capita and Spending per Capita

Circulation per capita correlates strongly (0.60) with spending per capita

Circulation per capita plotted against spending per capita

Circulation per capita (rounded) occurrence by spending category

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