Pierson’s library is a branch of Woodbury County Library, which lends less per resident than 63% of systems its size
Pierson’s library is the Pierson Branch, a branch of Woodbury County Library, which serves 12,004 people and lent 35K items last year.
The short version on Pierson’s library
Open only about 13 hours a week
The Pierson branch keeps short hours: about 13 a week, averaged over the year, so check its schedule before you go. The building ↓
Few programs for a library this size
The Woodbury County Library system offered 47 programs last year, 3.9 per 1,000 residents against a typical 24. Kids & programs ↓
Kids’ books are most of what goes out
Children’s books and media make up 79% of print loans. Per resident, kids’ borrowing is higher than at 61% of similar-size libraries. What people borrow ↓
Few residents carry a card
Only 11% of the people the system serves have a library card, against a typical 40% for its size. How it compares ↓
Fewer visits than most libraries its size
The Woodbury County Library system records 1 visits per resident, against a typical 3.1 for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people, below 90% of similar-size libraries. Borrowing holds up better, at 2.9 print items per resident. How it compares ↓
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; Pierson’s library is a branch of Woodbury County Library, so they cover the whole system (12,004 people), not just the Pierson branch.
What’s behind Pierson’s civic life grade
Pierson 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 1 of 7 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people across the U.S.
Woodbury County Library serves 12,004 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000.
Every hour the doors are open, about 7 items go out
Fiscal year 2024, for the whole Woodbury County Library system. The library’s own count.
More than half the print loans are kids’ books
35K print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
47 programs a year
Story times, clubs, classes and events, across the whole system, by who they’re for.
Programs last year by age group
story times and programs a week for ages 0–5, on average.
Find it
Pierson Branch, 321 Fourth St., Pierson.
No late fees. Good at every Woodbury County Library branch.
New in Pierson? The Handbook →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 $1.72 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Pierson cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $290K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $499K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $290K 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 1,368 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.
- System-wide. Pierson Branch is one branch of Woodbury County Library, so the yearly numbers cover every branch and all 12,004 people it serves.
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 Pierson
Does Pierson have a public library?
Yes: Pierson Branch, 321 Fourth St., is a branch of Woodbury County Library, which serves 12,004 people. The branch is open about 13 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Woodbury County Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Pierson’s library?
It logged 1.0 visits and lent 2.9 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.1 visits for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people.
What is Pierson’s civic life grade?
Pierson 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 Pierson.
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.