Frederick County Public Libraries See More Visitors. Checkouts Last Year

That’s both in person and online.

Frederick, Md (KM) Frederick County’s public library system saw more visitors and checkouts last year.

The Library System says between July 1st, 2024 and June 30th, 2025, customers borrowed 5,168,926 materials which is 1-million more than the year before. It also says branch and online visits totaled 3.020,405 which is a 12.9 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.

“Each of these 3 million touch points represents an individual with a unique need or interest who turned to their public library to help. Opportunities to make a real connection and build bridges in our communities are  the reason we are here,” says Library System Director James Kelly, in a statement.

Frederick County Public Libraries circulate physical books, and digital contents such as e-books and audio books. Even movies and music can be downloaded or streamed from the local library system.

In a statement, the Frederick County Public Library System says  it has been measuring trends in borrowing for the past five years. It says EContent is now nearly half of all materials borrowed by library customers. There’s also an increase in digital cards that have been issued. More than 7,000 were issued  in 2025 which is a 10 percent increase from fiscal year 2024.

“FCPL remains committed to building collections  in which every person can see themselves reflected and to creating spaces where every person feels welcome,”: says Kelly.;

The Library System also says free Wi-Fi use went up by 3.6 percent, totaling 436,682 users.  More than 25,000 new library cards were issued in fiscal year 2025. That brings the Library System’s active cardholders total up to 165,376., which is more than half of the Frederick County’s total population.

By Kevin McManus