Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0North English’s library lends 5.9 print items per resident, against a typical 3.8 for libraries its size
North English Public Library serves North English’s 3,238 residents. Last year it lent 19K print books and media and logged 3,158 visits.
The short version on North English’s library
People borrow more than they stay
Borrowing per resident is higher than at 72% of similar-size libraries, but visits are lower than at 89%. People come in, pick up their books and go. How it compares ↓
Programs are almost all for children
84% of the 176 programs last year were for ages 11 and under, including about 1 a week for ages 0–5. Kids & programs ↓
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 North English’s civic life grade
On community nonprofits and volunteering, North English is among the top 1% of U.S. towns. North English is graded on two of the three inputs. Both inputs put North English near the top nationally; North English’s count of community nonprofits ranks highest.
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 →
15 community nonprofits are registered in North English
17.6 per 1,000 residents, against a U.S. town median of 3.7. The largest group: civic groups, clubs & veterans.
Community nonprofits, by kind
Counted from the IRS list of tax-exempt organizations by mailing address (fractions where a ZIP code spans towns). Congregations are counted apart (1 here), since whether a church registers depends on its denomination, not the town.
12.4%
12.4% of North English’s Facebook users aged 25–44 belong to a volunteering or activism group, against 8.6% in the typical Iowa town and 7.5% nationally.
Volunteering: Social Capital Atlas (Opportunity Insights), from data by Meta Platforms, Inc.; Chetty et al., Nature 2022. ZIP-code figures, weighted by where North English’s residents live; 2022.
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.
North English Public Library serves 3,238 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving 2,500 to 10,000.
Every hour the doors are open, about 12 items go out
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
Books and media off the shelf
19K print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
Each of the 19K books and other items on the shelves went out about 1 time last year, on average.
About 3 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 North English last year.
Find it
North English Public Library, 123 S Man, North English.
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 $4.59 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average North English cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $70K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $321K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $70K 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 1,188 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 North English
Does North English have a public library?
Yes. North English Public Library, 123 S Man, serves North English’s 3,238 residents (the survey’s count) and is open about 30 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is North English Public Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is North English’s library?
It logged 1.0 visits and lent 5.9 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3 visits for libraries serving 2,500 to 10,000 people.
What is North English’s civic life grade?
A+ North English is among the top 1% of U.S. towns on civic life. The grade combines library visits per resident, community nonprofits per 1,000 residents and the share of adults 25–44 in volunteering groups. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Book talk
Reading, story times and the library in North English.
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.