Blue Earth County Library, serving an area of 56,000 residents, has a collection of 250,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 7,500 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 4,400 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 16 employees, of whom 2 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 2 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $88,000. Patrons make 240,000 visits annually, and check out materials 400,000 times. Thirty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.