Poplar Bluff Public Library, serving an area of 16,800 residents, has a collection of 42,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 2,400 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 8 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $42,000. Patrons make 25,000 visits annually, and check out materials 132,000 times. Twenty-one percent of all check-outs are children's materials.