Arlington Public Library System, serving an area of 330,000 residents, has a collection of 380,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 19,800 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 11,500 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 92 employees, of whom 23 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 4 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $720,000. Patrons make 840,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,680,000 times. Forty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.