Gravel Hill · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainPhenix’s library is a branch of Charlotte County Library, which lends less per resident than 90% of systems its size
Phenix’s library is the Phenix Branch Library, a branch of Charlotte County Library, which serves 11,526 people and lent 15K items last year.
What Phenix’s library is like
The Charlotte County Library system is used less than most libraries its size
The Charlotte County Library system records 0.8 visits per resident, against a typical 3.1 for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people. Borrowing is 1 print items per resident, against a typical 3.9. How it compares ↓
Few programs for a library this size
The Charlotte County Library system offered 17 programs last year, 1.5 per 1,000 residents against a typical 24. Kids & programs ↓
Open only about 16 hours a week
The Phenix branch keeps short hours: about 16 a week, averaged over the year, so check its schedule before you go. The building ↓
Virginia pays a big share
23% of the budget comes from the state, and 77% from local taxes. Nationally, most library money is local. 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; Phenix’s library is a branch of Charlotte County Library, so they cover the whole system (11,526 people), not just the Phenix branch.
What’s behind Phenix’s civic life grade
Phenix 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.
Charlotte County Library serves 11,526 people, so it’s measured against U.S. libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000.
Every hour the doors are open, about 2 items go out
Fiscal year 2024, for the whole Charlotte County Library system. The library’s own count.
Mostly books and media off the shelf
15K loans last year: print, kids’ and digital.
3,109 e-books, e-audiobooks and streams last year. Borrow from home with your card, plus research databases: courses, journals, genealogy and more.
17 programs a year
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
Phenix Branch Library, 6860 Phenix Main Street, Phenix.
No late fees. E-books and audiobooks from home. Research databases: courses, journals, genealogy. Good at every Charlotte County Library branch.
New in Phenix? 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 Phenix cardholder borrows.
Typical for a library this size: $43. Operating budget $359K.
Last year the library lent and hosted about $253K worth of books, e-books, programs and Wi-Fi on a $359K 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 491 cardholders ÷ 12.
What this data can and can’t tell you
From the Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024.
- System-wide. Phenix Branch Library is one branch of Charlotte County Library, so the yearly numbers cover every branch and all 11,526 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 Phenix
Does Phenix have a public library?
Yes: Phenix Branch Library, 6860 Phenix Main Street, is a branch of Charlotte County Library, which serves 11,526 people. The branch is open about 16 hours a week, averaged over the year.
Is Charlotte 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 Phenix’s library?
It logged 0.8 visits and lent 1.3 items per resident in 2024, against a typical 3.1 visits for libraries serving 10,000 to 25,000 people.
What is Phenix’s civic life grade?
Phenix 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 Phenix.
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.