Callender’s library runs 384 programs per 1,000 residents, against a typical 60 for libraries its size
Callender Heritage Public Library serves Callender’s 536 residents. Last year it lent 485 print books and media and logged 2,315 visits.
Callender’s library, in brief
Six times the programs of a typical library its size
Callender Heritage Public Library ran 206 programs last year, about 4 a week. That’s 384 per 1,000 residents, against a typical 60. Kids & programs ↓
A small-town library
Callender Heritage Public Library serves 536 residents with about one full-time staff. 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 ↓
Open only about 22 hours a week
Callender Heritage Public Library keeps short hours: about 22 a week, averaged over the year, so check its schedule before you go. The building ↓
People visit, but borrow less than most
Callender Heritage Public Library lends 0.9 print items per resident, against a typical 3.9 for libraries serving under 2,500 people, fewer than 92% of similar-size libraries, though visits are closer to typical. 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 Callender’s civic life grade
Callender 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 Callender last year.
Ahead of most similar-size libraries on 4 of 7 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving under 2,500 people across the U.S.
Callender Heritage Public Library serves 536 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving under 2,500.
A year at Callender Heritage Public Library
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
Almost half the print loans are kids’ books
485 print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
Each of the 12K books and other items on the shelves went out about 0 time last year, on average.
Find it
Callender Heritage Public Library, 505 Thomas St., Callender.
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 Callender cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $54. Operating budget $40K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $20K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $40K 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 185 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 Callender
Does Callender have a public library?
Yes. Callender Heritage Public Library, 505 Thomas St., serves Callender’s 536 residents (the survey’s count) and is open about 22 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Callender Heritage Public Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Callender’s library?
It logged 4.3 visits and lent 0.9 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.5 visits for libraries serving under 2,500 people.
What is Callender’s civic life grade?
Callender 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 Callender.
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.