Dorchester County Public Library, serving an area of 29,000 residents, has a collection of 92,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 580 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,600 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 15 employees, of whom 4 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and one branch library, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $88,000. Patrons make 154,000 visits annually, and check out materials 88,000 times. Twenty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.