Marathon’s library lends 11 print items per resident, against a typical 3.9 for libraries its size
Marathon Public Library serves Marathon’s 733 residents. Last year it lent 7,950 print books and media and logged 530 visits.
The short version on Marathon’s library
People borrow more than they stay
Borrowing per resident is higher than at 89% of similar-size libraries, but visits are lower than at 95%. People come in, pick up their books and go. How it compares ↓
A small-town library
Marathon Public Library serves 733 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
Marathon Public Library keeps short hours: about 21 a week, averaged over the year, so check its schedule before you go. The building ↓
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 Marathon’s civic life grade
Marathon 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
7,950 print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
Each of the 7,746 books and other items on the shelves went out about 1 time last year, on average.
Ahead of most similar-size libraries on 2 of 7 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving under 2,500 people across the U.S.
Marathon Public Library serves 733 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving under 2,500.
Every hour the doors are open, about 7 items go out
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
24 programs a year
Story times, clubs, classes and events, by who they’re for.
Programs last year by age group
Find it
Marathon Public Library, 306 W Attica, Marathon.
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 $6.24 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Marathon cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $54. Operating budget $22K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $138K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $22K 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 490 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 Marathon
Does Marathon have a public library?
Yes. Marathon Public Library, 306 W Attica, serves Marathon’s 733 residents (the survey’s count) and is open about 21 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Marathon Public Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Marathon’s library?
It logged 0.7 visits and lent 10.8 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.5 visits for libraries serving under 2,500 people.
What is Marathon’s civic life grade?
Marathon 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 Marathon.
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.