Cape Girardeau Public Library, serving an area of 35,000 residents, has a collection of 100,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 3,900 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 2,300 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 17 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $100,000. Patrons make 100,000 visits annually, and check out materials 230,000 times. Thirty-seven percent of all check-outs are children's materials.