Brooklyn Public Library, serving an area of 2,500,000 residents, has a collection of 6,900,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 88,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 126,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 1,150 employees, of whom 340 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 59 branch libraries, plus 2 bookmobiles. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $8,800,000. Patrons make 8,800,000 visits annually, and check out materials 18,000,000 times. Forty-four percent of all check-outs are children's materials.