First Regional Library, serving an area of 200,000 residents, has a collection of 480,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 18,900 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 21,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 120 employees, of whom 15 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 12 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $460,000. Patrons make 1,260,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,470,000 times. Twenty-five percent of all check-outs are children's materials.