Library · San Antonio
Libraries in San Antonio
San Antonio Public Library serves San Antonio’s 1,868,052 residents from 29 locations. Last year it logged 2,733,134 visits, about 1.5 for every resident, and lent 9.5M books, movies and e-books.
IMLS Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024Main library
San Antonio Public Library
600 Soledad St., San Antonio 78205
46 hrsopen a week
238,000sq ft
1.5Mbooks & media
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
#330
#330 of 516 TX libraries for visits per residentAmong every public library system in Texas that reported visits
Fiscal year 2024
A year at the library
2.7M
visits
1.5 per resident
9.5M
loans, print + digital
5.1 per resident
11K
programs & events
199K attended
603K
library cards
32% 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 (25th percentile)
Borrowing per resident
2.7 print items · typical 3.2
A little below typical (40th percentile)
Digital borrowing
2.4 e-items · typical 1.4
Higher than 72% of similar-size libraries
Kids’ borrowing
1.3 kids’ items · typical 1.6
A little below typical (42th percentile)
Program attendance
0.1 attendees · typical 0.2
Lower than most similar-size libraries (13th percentile)
Cardholders
32% of residents
A little below typical (31th percentile)
Borrowing & programs
What people use it for
What people borrow
9.5M loans last year
Books & media (adults)26%Kids’ books & media26%E-books, audio & streaming47%
Who the programs are for
10,840 story times, classes, clubs and events
Money
Who pays for it
$28 per resident a year
Typical for a library this size: $36. Operating budget $53M.
Local 98%Federal 0%Gifts & other 1%
Locations
Other libraries in San Antonio
And 21 more in San Antonio.
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.