Porterville Public Library, serving an area of 40,000 residents, has a collection of 84,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 3,500 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 3,700 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 10 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $100,000. Patrons make 140,000 visits annually, and check out materials 240,000 times. Thirty-one percent of all check-outs are children's materials.