Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0West Bend’s library lends 9.2 print items per resident, against a typical 3.9 for libraries its size
West Bend Public Library serves West Bend’s 1,761 residents. Last year it lent 16K print books and media and logged 11K visits.
West Bend’s library, in brief
More than half the print loans are for kids
Children’s books and media are 70% of print loans, and kids’ borrowing per resident is higher than at 93% of similar-size libraries. That works out to about 50 items per child in West Bend last year. Kids & programs ↓
A small-town library
West Bend Public Library serves 1,761 residents with about 2 full-time staff, open about 38 hours a week. 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 ↓
Most programs are for young children
71% of the 281 programs last year were for ages 11 and under, including about 1.8 a week for ages 0–5. Kids & programs ↓
Programs draw a crowd
4,584 people came to the library’s 281 programs last year: 2.6 per resident, against a typical 0.7, more than at 90% of similar-size libraries. 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; in a town this small, one busy program or a few avid readers move the per-resident numbers.
What’s behind West Bend’s civic life grade
West Bend 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 →
About 4 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 West Bend last year.
Ahead of most similar-size libraries on all 7 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving under 2,500 people across the U.S.
West Bend Public Library serves 1,761 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving under 2,500.
Every hour the doors are open, about 8 items go out
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
More than half the print loans are kids’ books
16K print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
Each of the 12K books and other items on the shelves went out about 1.3 time last year, on average.
Find it
West Bend Public Library, 316 S Broadway, West Bend.
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 $2.10 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average West Bend cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $54. Operating budget $132K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $278K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $132K 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 973 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 West Bend
Does West Bend have a public library?
Yes. West Bend Public Library, 316 S Broadway, serves West Bend’s 1,761 residents (the survey’s count) and is open about 38 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is West Bend Public Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is West Bend’s library?
It logged 6.0 visits and lent 9.2 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.5 visits for libraries serving under 2,500 people.
What is West Bend’s civic life grade?
West Bend 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 West Bend.
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.