Baltimore County Public Library, serving an area of 720,000 residents, has a collection of 1,760,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 120,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 60,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 460 employees, of whom 39 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises16 branch libraries, plus 3 bookmobiles. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $5,200,000. Patrons make 5,200,000 visits annually, and check out materials 11,500,000 times. Thirty-three percent of all check-outs are children's materials.