Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Matthews’ library is a branch of New Madrid County Library, which lends less per resident than 85% of systems its size
Matthews’s library is the Matthews Branch, a branch of New Madrid County Library, which serves 14,829 people and lent 24K items last year.
What Matthews’s library is like
The New Madrid County Library system is used less than most libraries its size
The New Madrid County Library system records 1 visits per resident, against a typical 3.1 for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people. Borrowing is 1.4 print items per resident, against a typical 3.9. How it compares ↓
Few programs for a library this size
The New Madrid County Library system offered 28 programs last year, 1.9 per 1,000 residents against a typical 24. Kids & programs ↓
Open only about 16 hours a week
The Matthews branch keeps short hours: about 16 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; Matthews’s library is a branch of New Madrid County Library, so they cover the whole system (14,829 people), not just the Matthews branch.
What’s behind Matthews’ civic life grade
Matthews 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 →
Below most similar-size libraries on all 8 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people across the U.S.
New Madrid County Library serves 14,829 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000.
Every hour the doors are open, about 3 items go out
Fiscal year 2024, for the whole New Madrid County Library system. The library’s own count.
Mostly books and media off the shelf
24K loans last year: print, kids’ and digital.
3,709 e-books, e-audiobooks and streams last year. Borrow from home with your card, plus research databases: courses, journals, genealogy and more.
28 programs a year
Story times, clubs, classes and events, across the whole system, by who they’re for.
Programs last year by age group
Find it
Matthews Branch, 301 Main St., Matthews.
No late fees. E-books and audiobooks from home. Research databases: courses, journals, genealogy. Good at every New Madrid County Library branch.
New in Matthews? The Handbook →Hours are the survey’s yearly average. Check the library’s own site for today’s hours.
What a library card is worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Matthews cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $503K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $402K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $503K 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 4,635 cardholders ÷ 12.
What this data can and can’t tell you
From the Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024.
- System-wide. Matthews Branch is one branch of New Madrid County Library, so the yearly numbers cover every branch and all 14,829 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 Matthews
Does Matthews have a public library?
Yes: Matthews Branch, 301 Main St., is a branch of New Madrid County Library, which serves 14,829 people. The branch is open about 16 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is New Madrid County Library fine-free? Does it lend e-books?
Yes to both: no late fees, and e-books, audiobooks and research databases with a card (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Matthews’ library?
It logged 1.0 visits and lent 1.6 items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.1 visits for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people.
What is Matthews’ civic life grade?
Matthews 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 Matthews.
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.