Tennessee Public Libraries at a Glance

The State of Tennessee has 291 local public libraries legally established in accordance with the Tennessee Code Annotated 10-3-101. All of these public libraries are funded by city and/or county local tax resources. Of the 291 existing public libraries, 139 are full-service libraries, 102 are branch libraries, and 48 are community libraries serving small limited geographic areas and providing limited roles that meet locally defined needs.

Four of the public libraries in the state – Memphis-Shelby County , Nashville- Davidson County , Chattanooga-Hamilton County , and Knoxville-Knox County -- are large single-county library systems with multiple branches. Non-metropolitan full-service libraries outside these four counties are divided according to service population numbers. Level V libraries serve populations of 50,000 – 175,000 people; Level IV libraries serve populations of 25,000 – 49,999; Level III Libraries serve populations of 10,000-24,999; Level II Libraries serve populations of 5,000 – 9,999 people; and Level I Libraries serve populations of under 5,000.

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• Operating Income