Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet

View the APL fact sheet, which includes branch information and a map of our locations

Albany Public Library:

  • Operates seven branches — Arbor Hill/West Hill, Bach, Delaware, Howe, North Albany, Pine Hills, Washington Ave. — in diverse neighborhoods across the city of Albany, NY.
  • Serves residents and visitors. About 25% of residents are active APL cardholders.
  • Is governed by an elected board of nine trustees and is funded by city taxpayers, with residents voting on the library budget in May.
  • Provides access to physical titles through its own collection, plus more available from companion libraries in the Upper Hudson Library System (Albany, Rensselaer counties). Also gives access to digital books, audiobooks, and magazines through Libby. And even more digital materials available through reciprocal lending with three regional library systems: Southern Adirondack, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley.
  • Community borrowing program with the University at Albany provides access to university materials and databases.
  • Delivers dozens of programs each week for all ages, including book talks and author events, movie screenings and music performances, art classes, story times and early literacy initiatives, wellness classes, and career and finance workshops.
  • Provides building-wide WiFi connections, which extend into outdoor community spaces, as well as public access computers and printers, and computer and digital device training assistance at all branches.
  • Hosts free literacy programs, tax preparation, and financial education services for Albany residents.
  • Houses the Pruyn Collection of Albany History, which includes many historical books, pamphlets, newspapers, photographs, city directories, and census records. Parts of the collection are available online through New York Heritage.
  • Provides specialty items like reservable Museum & Adventure Passes, bike repair stations outside branches, WiFi hotspots at all locations, and a 3D printer, sewing machine, hand tools, digital art software, and more fabrication implements in the Albany Made Creative Lab at Washington Ave. Branch.
  • Offers meeting rooms, study rooms, and tutoring spaces for community groups.
  • Completed an award-winning $29.1 million project in 2010 that renovated three branch libraries and constructed two new library buildings.
  • Has won numerous accolades, including five library design/building awards for the new/renovated branch libraries, as well as awards for adult and children’s programming and the full library system.

Each Month at Albany Public Library:

  • 32,000 people visit the library branches.
  • 45,000 books, DVDs, magazines, CDs, audiobooks, and other materials — in physical and digital formats — are loaned out.
  • 11,000 people use WiFi and library computers for research and entertainment at our branches.
  • 3,500 people attend library programs and activities.
  • 1,000 community groups and individuals use library meeting and study rooms.

For Library Updates and Information:

@AlbanyNYLibrary on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, and YouTube

 

Updated February 2026