Decatur Public Library, serving an area of 18,000 residents, has a collection of 33,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 720 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 2,600 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 5 employees, of whom 2 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $50,000. Patrons make 115,000 visits annually, and check out materials 88,000 times. Thirty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.