Library · Durham
Durham County Main Library
Durham’s library is the Durham County Main Library, a branch of Durham County Library, open about 59 hours a week.
IMLS Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024County system. Durham’s branch belongs to Durham County Library, which serves 334,350 people. The yearly numbers below are for the whole system, not just this branch. A card works at every branch.
Your branch
Durham County Main Library
300 N Roxboro Rd., Durham 27701
59 hrsopen a week
95,000sq ft
Fine-freeNo late fees on books returned late
E-books & audiobooksBorrow from home with your card
Auto-renews loansBooks renew on their own if no one’s waiting
Research databasesOnline courses, journals, genealogy and more
Fiscal year 2024
A year at Durham County Library
500K
visits
1.5 per resident
3.3M
loans, print + digital
9.8 per resident
5,884
programs & events
127K attended
251K
library cards
75% of people served
How it compares
Against libraries serving 100,000+ people
Per-resident numbers, compared only with libraries of a similar size across the country, because a tiny town’s library always looks busier per person.
Visits per resident
1.5 visits · typical 2.1
A little below typical (27th percentile)
Borrowing per resident
6.7 print items · typical 3.2
Higher than 82% of similar-size libraries
Digital borrowing
3.1 e-items · typical 1.4
Higher than 80% of similar-size libraries
Kids’ borrowing
4.2 kids’ items · typical 1.6
Higher than 88% of similar-size libraries
Program attendance
0.4 attendees · typical 0.2
Higher than 81% of similar-size libraries
Cardholders
75% of residents
Higher than 89% of similar-size libraries
Borrowing & programs
What people use it for
What people borrow
3.3M loans last year
Books & media (adults)26%Kids’ books & media43%E-books, audio & streaming31%
Who the programs are for
5,884 story times, classes, clubs and events
Money
Who pays for it
$42 per resident a year
Typical for a library this size: $36. Operating budget $14M.
Local 96%State 2%Federal 0%Gifts & other 1%
Locations
Other Durham County Library branches in Durham
About these numbers
How to read this page
Hours are an averageThe survey reports a building’s public hours for the whole year. We divide by the weeks it was open, so check the library’s own site for today’s hours.
Compared by size“Similar-size” means libraries serving about as many people, nationwide. Per-resident numbers always flatter the smallest towns, so they’re never compared with big cities.
One year, the library’s own countLibraries report their own visits, loans and programs for fiscal year 2024. A library that didn’t respond keeps its address and hours here, with no numbers.
Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024. Distances are straight-line from the town center.