Stonington’s library runs 78 programs per 1,000 residents, against a typical 60 for libraries its size
Stonington Township Public Library serves 993 people in and around Stonington. Last year it lent 3,523 print books and media and logged 3,722 visits.
Stonington’s library, in brief
A small-town library
Stonington Township Public Library serves 993 residents with about one full-time staff, open about 25 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 ↓
Few residents carry a card
Only 14% of the people Stonington Township Public Library serves have a library card, against a typical 54% for its size. How it compares ↓
Stonington Township Public Library serves more than Stonington
The library’s service area covers 993 people in and around Stonington, so its per-resident numbers are measured against that wider population. How it compares ↓
Programs lean toward adults
51% of the 77 programs last year were for adults: classes, talks, clubs and events. 17 were for children. Kids & programs ↓
A big collection for the borrowing it gets
Stonington Township Public Library holds 30,000 books and other items, but the average item went out less than once last year. What people borrow ↓
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 Stonington’s civic life grade
Stonington 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 3 of 6 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving under 2,500 people across the U.S.
Stonington Township Public Library serves 993 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving under 2,500.
Every hour the doors are open, about 3 items go out
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
Books and media off the shelf
3,523 print loans last year. The library didn’t report its e-book and e-audiobook loans.
The survey has no count of children’s loans for Stonington’s library in 2024, so there’s no split between adults’ and kids’ borrowing.
Each of the 30K books and other items on the shelves went out about 0.1 time last year, on average.
77 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.
Find it
Stonington Township Public Library, 500 East North Street, Stonington.
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 $2.04 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Stonington cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $54. Operating budget $39K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $79K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $39K 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 138 cardholders ÷ 12.
What this data can and can’t tell you
From the Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024.
- Digital loans not reported. Illinois libraries often don’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 Stonington
Does Stonington have a public library?
Yes. Stonington Township Public Library, 500 East North Street, serves 993 people in and around Stonington (the survey’s count) and is open about 25 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Stonington Township Public Library fine-free?
Yes, no late fees (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Stonington’s library?
It logged 3.7 visits and lent 3.5 print items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.5 visits for libraries serving under 2,500 people.
What is Stonington’s civic life grade?
Stonington 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 Stonington.
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.