Photo: Jamo2008 · CC BY-SA 3.0Alden’s library runs 301 programs per 1,000 residents, against a typical 60 for libraries its size
Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library serves Alden’s 1,019 residents. Last year it lent 5,497 print books and media and logged 10K visits.
The short version on Alden’s library
More library cards than residents
1,533 cards for 1,019 people. Cards held by people from outside the service area count too, so the total can pass the population. At the typical library serving under 2,500 people, it’s 54%. How it compares ↓
Five times the programs of a typical library its size
Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library ran 307 programs last year, about 6 a week. That’s 301 per 1,000 residents, against a typical 60. People show up: 2,082 attended. Kids & programs ↓
A small-town library
Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library serves 1,019 residents with about 2 full-time staff, open about 31 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 ↓
People come to Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library a lot
Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library logs 10 visits per resident, against a typical 3.5 for libraries serving under 2,500 people, more than 90% of similar-size libraries. Borrowing is above typical too, at 5.4 print items per resident. How it compares ↓
Kids’ books are most of what goes out
Children’s books and media make up 65% of print loans. Per resident, kids’ borrowing is higher than at 80% of similar-size libraries. What people borrow ↓
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 Alden’s civic life grade
Alden 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 →
About 2 kids’ programs 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 Alden last year.
Ahead of most similar-size libraries on all 7 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving under 2,500 people across the U.S.
Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library serves 1,019 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving under 2,500.
Every hour the doors are open, about 3 items go out
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
More than half the print loans are kids’ books
5,497 print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
Each of the 11K books and other items on the shelves went out about 0.5 time last year, on average.
Find it
Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library, 1012 Water St., Alden.
Hours are the survey’s yearly average. Check the library’s own site for today’s hours.
What a library card is worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Alden cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $54. Operating budget $131K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $101K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $131K budget.
Late fines apply to some overdue items.
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 1,533 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 Alden
Does Alden have a public library?
Yes. Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library, 1012 Water St., serves Alden’s 1,019 residents (the survey’s count) and is open about 31 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library fine-free?
It charges late fines on some overdue items (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Alden’s library?
It logged 10.2 visits and lent 5.4 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.5 visits for libraries serving under 2,500 people.
What is Alden’s civic life grade?
Alden 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 Alden.
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.