Total circulation numbers per capita are based on the population of the county. Total circulation per capita for Charleston County includes circulation or usage by people other than residents, causing the circulation per capita to appear higher than actual usage by residents alone. Differences That Matter Having access to a library facility directly correlates to usage by local residents. In the three-county region, the more rural or remote the household, the less likely they are to use library facilities. The public library provides programs and services for all residents in the region.
Adequate funding is necessary in order to maintain and provide such facilities.
Adequate funding also enables the library to expand its collections, services and programs to meet the changing needs of the community. Operating income per capita increased steadily from 1995 to 1998 for all three county libraries in the region. The Charleston County library system had the highest increase per capita in operating income, due in large part to new facilities and the new library headquarters facility in downtown Charleston. Charleston County was the second highest in the state. Charleston County's public library system serves a larger population area than Berkeley or Dorchester.