Kanawha’s library runs 85 programs per 1,000 residents, against a typical 60 for libraries its size
Kanawha Public Library serves Kanawha’s 694 residents. Last year it lent 2,598 print books and media and logged 2,468 visits.
The short version on Kanawha’s library
A small-town library
Kanawha Public Library serves 694 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 21 hours a week
Kanawha Public Library keeps short hours: about 21 a week, averaged over the year, so check its schedule before you go. The building ↓
Most programs are for young children
71% of the 59 programs last year were for ages 11 and under, including 0 for ages 0–5. Kids & programs ↓
A place to get online
Kanawha Public Library logs about 10 Wi-Fi sessions a day and has 7 public computers. That’s 5.3 sessions per resident a year. A year at the library ↓
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 Kanawha’s civic life grade
Kanawha 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 4 of 7 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving under 2,500 people across the U.S.
Kanawha Public Library serves 694 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving under 2,500.
Every hour the doors are open, about 2 items go out
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
Books and media off the shelf
2,598 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 0.2 time last year, on average.
59 programs a year
Story times, clubs, classes and events, by who they’re for.
Programs last year by age group
children’s books and media borrowed per child under 18 in Kanawha last year.
Find it
Kanawha Public Library, 121 N Main, Kanawha.
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 $1.21 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Kanawha cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $54. Operating budget $45K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $54K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $45K 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 544 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 Kanawha
Does Kanawha have a public library?
Yes. Kanawha Public Library, 121 N Main, serves Kanawha’s 694 residents (the survey’s count) and is open about 21 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Kanawha Public Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Kanawha’s library?
It logged 3.6 visits and lent 3.7 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.5 visits for libraries serving under 2,500 people.
What is Kanawha’s civic life grade?
Kanawha 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 Kanawha.
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.