Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0Oakland’s library is a branch of Yalobusha County Library, which lends less per resident than 96% of systems its size
Oakland’s library is the Oakland Public Library, a branch of Yalobusha County Library, which serves 12,386 people and lent 8,485 items last year.
Oakland’s library, in brief
The Yalobusha County Library system is used less than most libraries its size
The Yalobusha County Library system records 0.6 visits per resident, against a typical 3.1 for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people. Borrowing is 0.6 print items per resident, against a typical 3.9. It also spends less than most: $10 per resident, against a typical $43. How it compares ↓
Few programs for a library this size
The Yalobusha County Library system offered 48 programs last year, 3.9 per 1,000 residents against a typical 24. Kids & programs ↓
Open only about 19 hours a week
The Oakland branch keeps short hours: about 19 a week, averaged over the year, so check its schedule before you go. The building ↓
Federal money pays a real share
7% of the budget comes from federal grants, and 67% from local taxes. Nationally, most library money is local. What your card is worth ↓
Runs on less money than most
The Yalobusha County Library system spends $10 per resident, less than 97% of similar-size libraries (typical: $43). What your card is worth ↓
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; Oakland’s library is a branch of Yalobusha County Library, so they cover the whole system (12,386 people), not just the Oakland branch.
What’s behind Oakland’s civic life grade
Oakland 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.
Yalobusha County Library serves 12,386 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 Yalobusha County Library system. The library’s own count.
Mostly books and media off the shelf
8,485 loans last year: print, kids’ and digital.
735 e-books, e-audiobooks and streams last year. Borrow from home with your card, plus research databases: courses, journals, genealogy and more.
48 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
Oakland Public Library, 324 Holly Street, Oakland.
E-books and audiobooks from home. Research databases: courses, journals, genealogy. Good at every Yalobusha County Library branch.
New in Oakland? 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 $1.34 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Oakland cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $118K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $159K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $118K budget.
Late fines apply to some overdue items.
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 4,522 cardholders ÷ 12.
What this data can and can’t tell you
From the Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024.
- System-wide. Oakland Public Library is one branch of Yalobusha County Library, so the yearly numbers cover every branch and all 12,386 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 Oakland
Does Oakland have a public library?
Yes: Oakland Public Library, 324 Holly Street, is a branch of Yalobusha County Library, which serves 12,386 people. The branch is open about 19 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Yalobusha County Library fine-free? Does it lend e-books?
It charges late fines on some overdue items, and it lends e-books and audiobooks with a card (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Oakland’s library?
It logged 0.6 visits and lent 0.7 items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.1 visits for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people.
What is Oakland’s civic life grade?
Oakland 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 Oakland.
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.