Mt Vernon & Knox County, Library Of, serving an area of 48,000 residents, has a collection of 189,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 14,700 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 16,800 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 46 employees, of whom 2 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $350,000. Patrons make 460,000 visits annually, and check out materials 780,000 times. Thirty-two percent of all check-outs are children's materials.