Library · Bennington
Bennington Free
Bennington’s library is the Bennington Free, a branch of Bennington Free, open about 40 hours a week.
IMLS Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024Multi-county system. Bennington’s branch belongs to Bennington Free, which serves 16,261 people. The yearly numbers below are for the whole system, not just this branch. A card works at every branch.
Your branch
Bennington Free
101 Silver St., Bennington 05201
40 hrsopen a week
11,511sq ft
Fine-freeNo late fees on books returned late
E-books & audiobooksBorrow from home with your card
Research databasesOnline courses, journals, genealogy and more
Fiscal year 2024
A year at Bennington Free
82K
visits
5.0 per resident
46K
loans, print + digital
2.8 per resident
168
programs & events
4,078 attended
4,713
library cards
29% of people served
How it compares
Against libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 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
5.0 visits · typical 3.1
Higher than 78% of similar-size libraries
Borrowing per resident
2.0 print items · typical 3.9
A little below typical (25th percentile)
Digital borrowing
0.8 e-items · typical 1.1
A little below typical (37th percentile)
Kids’ borrowing
0.7 kids’ items · typical 1.8
Lower than most similar-size libraries (22th percentile)
Program attendance
0.3 attendees · typical 0.4
A little below typical (27th percentile)
Cardholders
29% of residents
A little below typical (30th percentile)
Borrowing & programs
What people use it for
What people borrow
46K loans last year
Books & media (adults)47%Kids’ books & media26%E-books, audio & streaming27%
Who the programs are for
168 story times, classes, clubs and events
Money
Who pays for it
$40 per resident a year
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $646K.
Local 78%State 3%Federal 0%Gifts & other 19%
Locations
Other Bennington Free branches in Bennington
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.