Chestertown’s library logs 2.5 visits per resident, against a typical 3 for libraries its size
Town of Chester Public Library serves 3,086 people in and around Chestertown. Last year it lent 15K books, movies and e-books and logged 7,857 visits.
The short version on Chestertown’s library
Most programs are for young children
78% of the 120 programs last year were for ages 11 and under, including about 1.5 a week for ages 0–5. Kids & programs ↓
Town of Chester Public Library serves more than Chestertown
The library’s service area covers 3,086 people in and around Chestertown, so its per-resident numbers are measured against that wider population. How it compares ↓
A big collection for the borrowing it gets
Town of Chester Public Library holds 25,000 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.
What’s behind Chestertown’s civic life grade
Chestertown 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 4 of 8 measures
Per resident, against libraries serving 2,500 to 10,000 people across the U.S.
Town of Chester Public Library serves 3,086 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving 2,500 to 10,000.
Every hour the doors are open, about 8 items go out
Fiscal year 2024. The library’s own count.
Mostly books and media off the shelf
15K loans last year: print, kids’ and digital.
Each of the 25K books and other items on the shelves went out about 0.4 time last year, on average.
3,732 e-books, e-audiobooks and streams last year. Borrow from home with your card, plus research databases: courses, journals, genealogy and more.
About 2 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.
Find it
Town of Chester Public Library, 6307 Main St. / State Route 9, Chestertown.
No late fees. E-books and audiobooks from home. Research databases: courses, journals, genealogy.
New in Chestertown? 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 $2.75 worth
Set what you’d borrow in a month. It starts at what the average Chestertown cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $95K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $260K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $95K 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 1,490 cardholders ÷ 12.
What this data can and can’t tell you
From the Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024.
- The library’s own count. Libraries report their own visits, loans and programs. A library that didn’t respond keeps its address and hours here, with no numbers.
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 Chestertown
Does Chestertown have a public library?
Yes. Town of Chester Public Library, 6307 Main St. / State Route 9, serves 3,086 people in and around Chestertown (the survey’s count) and is open about 36 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Town of Chester Public 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 Chestertown’s library?
It logged 2.5 visits and lent 4.8 items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3 visits for libraries serving 2,500 to 10,000 people.
What is Chestertown’s civic life grade?
Chestertown 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 Chestertown.
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.