| State | Public libraries |
|---|---|
| Illinois | 622 |
| Iowa | 535 |
| Texas | 457 |
| New York | 403 |
| Michigan | 396 |
| Wisconsin | 381 |
| Massachusetts | 337 |
| Kansas | 318 |
| New Jersey | 249 |
| Indiana | 236 |
| Nebraska | 235 |
| Ohio | 232 |
| Alabama | 216 |
| New Hampshire | 203 |
| California | 186 |
| Tennessee | 185 |
| Missouri | 150 |
| Minnesota | 140 |
| Oregon | 132 |
| Oklahoma | 122 |
| Kentucky | 120 |
| Colorado | 112 |
| Maine | 107 |
| Vermont | 106 |
| Idaho | 105 |
| South Dakota | 104 |
| Connecticut | 102 |
| West Virginia | 96 |
| Montana | 84 |
| Virginia | 84 |
| Arizona | 83 |
| North Carolina | 82 |
| New Mexico | 80 |
| Florida | 79 |
| North Dakota | 73 |
| Utah | 69 |
| Louisiana | 68 |
| Pennsylvania | 65 |
| Georgia | 60 |
| Washington | 59 |
| Arkansas | 58 |
| Mississippi | 52 |
| Alaska | 44 |
| South Carolina | 42 |
| Maryland | 26 |
| Wyoming | 23 |
| Rhode Island | 22 |
| Delaware | 21 |
| Nevada | 21 |
| District of Columbia | 1 |
| Hawaii | 1 |
Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 2024. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Largest public libraries
| Public library | State | Librarians (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Public Library Los Angeles | CA | 424 |
| Chicago Public Library Chicago | IL | 362.38 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish Library Baton Rouge | LA | 345.25 |
| Queens Borough Public Library Jamaica | NY | 336.88 |
| Metropolitan Library System Oklahoma City | OK | 278.5 |
| La County Library Downey | CA | 269 |
| Saint Louis County Library St. Louis | MO | 269 |
| Hennepin County Library Minnetonka | MN | 250.2 |
| Broward County Libraries Division Fort Lauderdale | FL | 246.5 |
| Richland County Public Library Columbia | SC | 235.76 |
Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 2024. Data captured October 2, 2026.