Urbandale Public Library, serving an area of 30,000 residents, has a collection of 100,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 8,400 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 4,800 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 21 employees, of whom 4 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $168,000. Patrons make 300,000 visits annually, and check out materials 540,000 times. Thirty-four percent of all check-outs are children's materials.