Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0Industry’s library is a branch of Austin County Library System, which lends less per resident than 98% of systems its size
Industry’s library is the West End Library, a branch of Austin County Library System, which serves 12,974 people and lent 5,713 items last year.
The short version on Industry’s library
The Austin County Library System is used less than most libraries its size
The Austin County Library System records 0.5 visits per resident, against a typical 3.1 for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people. Borrowing is 0.4 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 Austin County Library System offered 58 programs last year, 4.5 per 1,000 residents against a typical 24. Kids & programs ↓
Runs on less money than most
The Austin County Library System spends $10 per resident, less than 95% of similar-size libraries (typical: $43). What your card is worth ↓
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; Industry’s library is a branch of Austin County Library System, so they cover the whole system (12,974 people), not just the Industry branch.
What’s behind Industry’s civic life grade
Industry 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.
Austin County Library System serves 12,974 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000.
Every hour the doors are open, about 1 item goes out
Fiscal year 2024, for the whole Austin County Library System system. The library’s own count.
More than half the print loans are kids’ books
5,713 loans last year: print, kids’ and digital.
58 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
West End Library, 1646 N Main St., Industry.
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 Industry cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $136K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $91K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $136K 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 4,915 cardholders ÷ 12.
What this data can and can’t tell you
From the Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024.
- System-wide. West End Library is one branch of Austin County Library System, so the yearly numbers cover every branch and all 12,974 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 Industry
Does Industry have a public library?
Yes: West End Library, 1646 N Main St., is a branch of Austin County Library System, which serves 12,974 people. The branch is open about 34 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Austin County Library System fine-free?
It charges late fines on some overdue items (the library’s 2024 survey report).
How busy is Industry’s library?
It logged 0.5 visits and lent 0.4 items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.1 visits for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people.
What is Industry’s civic life grade?
Industry 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 Industry.
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.