Library · Big Spring
Howard County Library
Big Spring’s library is the Howard County Library, a branch of Howard County Library, open about 43 hours a week.
IMLS Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024County system. Big Spring’s branch belongs to Howard County Library, which serves 30,554 people. The yearly numbers below are for the whole system, not just this branch. A card works at every branch.
Your branch
Howard County Library
500 S Main St., Big Spring 79720
43 hrsopen a week
25,000sq ft
Charges late finesLate fees on some overdue items
E-books & audiobooksBorrow from home with your card
Research databasesOnline courses, journals, genealogy and more
Fiscal year 2024
A year at Howard County Library
55K
visits
1.8 per resident
35K
loans, print + digital
1.1 per resident
216
programs & events
4,162 attended
4,614
library cards
15% of people served
How it compares
Against libraries serving 25,000 to 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
1.8 visits · typical 2.6
A little below typical (31th percentile)
Borrowing per resident
1.0 print items · typical 3.7
Lower than most similar-size libraries (11th percentile)
Digital borrowing
0.1 e-items · typical 1.2
Lower than most similar-size libraries (5th percentile)
Kids’ borrowing
0.5 kids’ items · typical 1.7
Lower than most similar-size libraries (15th percentile)
Program attendance
0.1 attendees · typical 0.3
Lower than most similar-size libraries (16th percentile)
Cardholders
15% of residents
Lower than most similar-size libraries (8th percentile)
Borrowing & programs
What people use it for
What people borrow
35K loans last year
Books & media (adults)47%Kids’ books & media42%E-books, audio & streaming11%
Who the programs are for
216 story times, classes, clubs and events
Money
Who pays for it
$19 per resident a year
Typical for a library this size: $40. Operating budget $575K.
Local 98%State 1%Federal 1%Gifts & other 0%
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.