Adams’ library is a branch of Carnegie Regional Library, which lends less per resident than 92% of systems its size
Adams’s library is the Adams Mini Library, a branch of Carnegie Regional Library, which serves 10,563 people and lent 9,485 items last year.
The short version on Adams’s library
Programs are almost all for children
91% of the 68 programs last year were for ages 11 and under, including about 1 a week for ages 0–5. Kids & programs ↓
Few programs for a library this size
The Carnegie Regional Library system offered 68 programs last year, 6.4 per 1,000 residents against a typical 24. Kids & programs ↓
People visit, but borrow less than most
The Carnegie Regional Library system lends 0.9 print items per resident, against a typical 3.9 for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people, fewer than 92% of similar-size libraries, though visits are closer to typical. What people borrow ↓
Almost all the borrowing is off the shelf
Only 0% of loans are e-books, audiobooks or streaming, fewer per resident than at 99% of similar-size libraries. 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; Adams’s library is a branch of Carnegie Regional Library, so they cover the whole system (10,563 people), not just the Adams branch.
What’s behind Adams’ civic life grade
Adams 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 8 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people across the U.S.
Carnegie Regional Library serves 10,563 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000.
A year at Carnegie Regional Library
Fiscal year 2024, for the whole Carnegie Regional Library system. The library’s own count.
Not reported for 2024: hours open. The survey fills a missing figure with its own estimate; we leave estimates out rather than show them as the library’s count.
Mostly books and media off the shelf
9,485 loans last year: print, kids’ and digital.
About 1 kids’ program a week
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
Adams Mini Library, 503 Briggs Ave, Adams.
Research databases: courses, journals, genealogy. Good at every Carnegie Regional Library branch.
New in Adams? 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 $1.07 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Adams cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $177K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $190K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $177K 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 662 cardholders ÷ 12.
What this data can and can’t tell you
From the Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024.
- Not reported for 2024: hours open. The survey filled the figure with its own estimate, so it is left out.
- System-wide. Adams Mini Library is one branch of Carnegie Regional Library, so the yearly numbers cover every branch and all 10,563 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 Adams
Does Adams have a public library?
Yes: Adams Mini Library, 503 Briggs Ave, is a branch of Carnegie Regional Library, which serves 10,563 people.
Is Carnegie Regional Library fine-free?
It charges late fines on some overdue items (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Adams’ library?
It logged 4.3 visits and lent 0.9 items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.1 visits for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people.
What is Adams’ civic life grade?
Adams 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 Adams.
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.