Paton’s library runs 288 programs per 1,000 residents, against a typical 60 for libraries its size
William Paton Public Library serves Paton’s 295 residents. Last year it lent 975 print books and media and logged 3,278 visits.
Paton’s library, in brief
More of a place to be than a place to borrow
Visits per resident beat 92% of similar-size libraries, while borrowing beats only 43%. The building also logs about 11 Wi-Fi sessions a day. Program attendance beats 95% of similar libraries. A year at the library ↓
Five times the programs of a typical library its size
William Paton Public Library ran 85 programs last year, about 2 a week. That’s 288 per 1,000 residents, against a typical 60. People show up: 1,044 attended. Kids & programs ↓
A small-town library
William Paton Public Library serves 295 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 ↓
Gifts and endowments pay a real share
37% of the library’s income comes from gifts, endowments, fees and other sources, not taxes. Local taxes cover 59%. What your card is worth ↓
Open only about 22 hours a week
William Paton Public Library keeps short hours: about 22 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 Paton’s civic life grade
Paton 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 →
85 programs a year
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.
Ahead of most similar-size libraries on 6 of 7 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving under 2,500 people across the U.S.
William Paton Public Library serves 295 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving under 2,500.
A year at William Paton Public Library
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
Almost half the print loans are kids’ books
975 print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
Each of the 9,015 books and other items on the shelves went out about 0.1 time last year, on average.
Find it
William Paton Public Library, 105 Main St., Paton.
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 $1.13 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Paton cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $54. Operating budget $32K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $37K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $32K 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 197 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 Paton
Does Paton have a public library?
Yes. William Paton Public Library, 105 Main St., serves Paton’s 295 residents (the survey’s count) and is open about 22 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is William Paton Public Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Paton’s library?
It logged 11.1 visits and lent 3.3 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.5 visits for libraries serving under 2,500 people.
What is Paton’s civic life grade?
Paton 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 Paton.
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.