Clay Center Public Library, serving an area of 880 residents, has a collection of 13,800 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 480 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,470 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of one employee, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $11,000. Patrons make 10,000 visits annually, and check out materials 32,000 times. Thirty-seven percent of all check-outs are children's materials.