Dunkerton Bridge · Photo: TheCatalyst31 · CC0Dunkerton’s library logs 1.6 visits per resident, against a typical 3 for libraries its size
Dunkerton Public Library serves Dunkerton’s 4,887 residents. Last year it lent 10K print books and media and logged 7,886 visits.
The short version on Dunkerton’s library
Few residents carry a card
Only 17% of the people Dunkerton Public Library serves have a library card, against a typical 42% for its size. How it compares ↓
Programs lean toward adults
51% of the 194 programs last year were for adults: classes, talks, clubs and events. 57 were for children. Kids & programs ↓
Kids’ books are most of what goes out
Children’s books and media make up 59% of print loans. Per resident, kids’ borrowing is lower than at 60% 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.
What’s behind Dunkerton’s civic life grade
Dunkerton 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 →
Ahead of most similar-size libraries on 2 of 7 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving 2,500 to 10,000 people across the U.S.
Dunkerton Public Library serves 4,887 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving 2,500 to 10,000.
Every hour the doors are open, about 8 items go out
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
More than half the print loans are kids’ books
10K print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
Each of the 18K books and other items on the shelves went out about 0.6 time last year, on average.
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 Dunkerton last year.
Find it
Dunkerton Public Library, 203 E Tower St., Dunkerton.
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 $1.97 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Dunkerton cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $89K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $175K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $89K 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 808 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 Dunkerton
Does Dunkerton have a public library?
Yes. Dunkerton Public Library, 203 E Tower St., serves Dunkerton’s 4,887 residents (the survey’s count) and is open about 26 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Dunkerton Public Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Dunkerton’s library?
It logged 1.6 visits and lent 2.1 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3 visits for libraries serving 2,500 to 10,000 people.
What is Dunkerton’s civic life grade?
Dunkerton 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 Dunkerton.
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.