Photo: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0Duncan’s library lends 14 print items per resident, against a typical 3.9 for libraries its size
Duncan Public Library serves Duncan’s 692 residents. Last year it lent 9,573 print books and media and logged 6,196 visits.
The short version on Duncan’s library
Duncan uses its library more than almost any town its size
Duncan Public Library logs 9 visits per resident, against a typical 3.5 for libraries serving under 2,500 people, and lends 14 print items per resident against a typical 3.9. On both counts it beats 87% of similar-size libraries across the U.S. How it compares ↓
Gifts and endowments pay a real share
44% of the library’s income comes from gifts, endowments, fees and other sources, not taxes. Local taxes cover 43%. What your card is worth ↓
A small-town library
Duncan Public Library serves 692 residents with about one full-time staff, open about 28 hours a week. It’s compared only with libraries serving under 2,500 people, because per-person numbers always look big in a small town. A year at the library ↓
Most programs are for young children
73% of the 92 programs last year were for ages 11 and under, including 44 for ages 0–5. Kids & programs ↓
Kids borrow more here than almost anywhere
Children’s books and media are 32% of print loans, and kids’ borrowing per resident is higher than at 86% of similar-size libraries. That works out to about 12 items per child in Duncan last year. Kids & programs ↓
This summary is written from the numbers on this page. Numbers are the library’s own report to the Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024; in a town this small, one busy program or a few avid readers move the per-resident numbers.
What’s behind Duncan’s civic life grade
Duncan isn’t graded on civic life: TownRatings grades towns of 1,000 residents or more.
Civic life counts registered nonprofits, library visits and online volunteering groups, so it can miss civic life that runs through congregations, mutual aid or neighbors looking out for each other.
Library visits: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024. Nonprofits: IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File, October 2026. Volunteering: Social Capital Atlas (Opportunity Insights), from data by Meta Platforms, Inc.; Chetty et al., Nature 2022. How TownRatings grades civic life →
Books and media off the shelf
9,573 print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
Each of the 15K books and other items on the shelves went out about 0.6 time last year, on average.
Ahead of most similar-size libraries on 6 of 7 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving under 2,500 people across the U.S.
Duncan Public Library serves 692 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving under 2,500.
Every hour the doors are open, about 6 items go out
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
About 1 kids’ program a week
Story times, clubs, classes and events, by who they’re for.
Programs last year by age group
story times and programs a week for ages 0–5, on average.
children’s books and media borrowed per child under 18 in Duncan last year.
Find it
Duncan Public Library, 122 N Hwy 75, Duncan.
Hours are the survey’s yearly average. Check the library’s own site for today’s hours.
For every $1 it spends, the library lends about $3.68 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Duncan cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $54. Operating budget $44K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $162K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $44K budget.
Fine-free. No late fees on books returned late.
Retail prices are typical, rounded down: a new book $17, a kids’ book $12, an e-book or e-audiobook $15, a movie rental $4, a class or program $10, a computer or Wi-Fi session $3. The average cardholder’s month = the library’s yearly loans, attendance and Wi-Fi sessions ÷ its 307 cardholders ÷ 12.
What this data can and can’t tell you
From the Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024.
- Digital loans not reported. The library didn’t report e-book loans, so borrowing here is print only.
Hours are the survey’s yearly average; libraries are compared with others serving about as many people. How TownRatings uses library figures →
Questions about the library and civic life in Duncan
Does Duncan have a public library?
Yes. Duncan Public Library, 122 N Hwy 75, serves Duncan’s 692 residents (the survey’s count) and is open about 28 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Duncan Public Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Duncan’s library?
It logged 9.0 visits and lent 13.8 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.5 visits for libraries serving under 2,500 people.
What is Duncan’s civic life grade?
Duncan isn’t graded on civic life: TownRatings grades towns of 1,000 residents or more. How it works.
Book talk
Reading, story times and the library in Duncan.
Libraries: Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024. Each library reports its own numbers. Distances are straight-line from the town center. “What your card is worth” uses typical retail prices and is an estimate, not an official figure.