Public library systems with the largest operating expenses per capita in 2006
(Systems serving at least 10,000 population)
| Library System | City | State | Operating Expenses | Population Served | Expenses Per Person |
| Washington County Cooperative Library Service | Hillsboro | OR | $2,995,951 | 11,420 | $262.34 |
| Beverly Hills Public Library | Beverly Hills | CA | $9,362,910 | 35,813 | $261.44 |
| Jericho Public Library | Jericho | NY | $3,654,462 | 14,036 | $260.36 |
| Bryant Library | Roslyn | NY | $4,030,832 | 18,221 | $221.22 |
| Rogers Memorial Library | Southampton | NY | $3,066,437 | 14,138 | $216.89 |
| Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library | Hewlett | NY | $4,280,875 | 20,265 | $211.24 |
| Pitkin County Library | Aspen | CO | $2,483,201 | 11,917 | $208.37 |
| Northport Public Library | Northport | NY | $7,193,004 | 36,602 | $196.52 |
| Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library | Plainview | NY | $5,434,273 | 28,138 | $193.13 |
| Port Washington Public Library | Port Washington | NY | $5,726,399 | 29,687 | $192.89 |
| Huntington Public Library | Huntington | NY | $6,369,839 | 33,853 | $188.16 |
| Manhasset Public Library | Manhasset | NY | $2,978,103 | 15,961 | $186.59 |
| Harborfields Public Library | Greenlawn | NY | $3,383,512 | 18,396 | $183.93 |
| City of Commerce Public Library | Commerce | CA | $2,435,284 | 13,439 | $181.21 |
| Great Neck Library | Great Neck | NY | $7,711,526 | 43,426 | $177.58 |
| Commack Public Library District | Commack | NY | $2,752,685 | 15,537 | $177.17 |
| Comsewogue Public Library | Pt Jefferson Sta | NY | $3,923,310 | 22,288 | $176.03 |
| Middle Country Public Library | Centereach | NY | $10,628,789 | 60,679 | $175.16 |
| Ocean City Free Public Library | Ocean City | NJ | $2,673,722 | 15,378 | $173.87 |
| Upper Arlington Public Library | Upper Arlington | OH | $5,195,345 | 31,860 | $163.07 |
| Bellmore Memorial Library | Bellmore | NY | $2,096,310 | 12,900 | $162.50 |
| Shaker Heights Public Library | Shaker Heights | OH | $5,290,935 | 32,989 | $160.38 |
| Westport Public Library | Westport | CT | $4,210,740 | 26,564 | $158.51 |
| Westchester Public Library | Chesterton | IN | $2,841,199 | 18,133 | $156.69 |
| Rocky River Public Library | Rocky River | OH | $3,190,031 | 20,461 | $155.91 |
| Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Lib | Shirley | NY | $6,967,555 | 45,704 | $152.45 |
| Lincolnwood Public Library District | Lincolnwood | IL | $1,882,327 | 12,359 | $152.30 |
| Nanuet Public Library | Nanuet | NY | $1,944,296 | 12,905 | $150.66 |
| Darien Library | Darien | CT | $3,070,747 | 20,547 | $149.45 |
| Garden City Public Library | Garden City | NY | $3,228,038 | 21,672 | $148.95 |
| Teton County Library | Jackson | WY | $2,752,619 | 18,625 | $147.79 |
| Prospect Heights Public Library District | Prospect Heights | IL | $2,220,984 | 15,127 | $146.82 |
| Mary Riley Styles Public Library | Falls Church | VA | $1,638,612 | 11,200 | $146.30 |
| Scarsdale Public Library | Scarsdale | NY | $2,604,540 | 17,823 | $146.13 |
| Bexley Public Library | Bexley | OH | $1,962,426 | 13,435 | $146.07 |
| Hauppauge Public Library | Hauppauge | NY | $1,469,957 | 10,243 | $143.51 |
| Oak Park Public Library | Oak Park | IL | $7,510,763 | 52,524 | $143.00 |
| Elk Grove Village Public Library | Elk Grove Village | IL | $3,260,153 | 22,839 | $142.74 |
| Porter Public Library | Westlake | OH | $4,374,986 | 30,744 | $142.30 |
| Princeton Public Library | Princeton | NJ | $4,288,334 | 30,230 | $141.86 |
| Wilmette Public Library District | Wilmette | IL | $3,917,519 | 27,651 | $141.68 |
| Deerfield Public Library | Deerfield | IL | $2,589,850 | 18,420 | $140.60 |
| Berkeley Public Library | Berkeley | CA | $14,269,707 | 105,385 | $135.41 |
| Chappaqua Central Sch Dist P L | Chappaqua | NY | $2,171,561 | 16,074 | $135.10 |
| Fayetteville Free Library | Fayetteville | NY | $1,367,935 | 10,192 | $134.22 |
| Half Hollow Hills Community Public Library | Dix Hills | NY | $5,813,654 | 43,616 | $133.29 |
| Vernon Area Public Library District | Lincolnshire | IL | $5,416,506 | 41,107 | $131.77 |
| Cleveland Public Library | Cleveland | OH | $61,205,831 | 464,744 | $131.70 |
| Millburn Free Public Library | Millburn | NJ | $2,586,726 | 19,765 | $130.87 |
| Babylon School District Public Library | Babylon | NY | $1,538,554 | 11,793 | $130.46 |