Harlingen Public Library, serving an area of 58,000 residents, has a collection of 132,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 10,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 5,200 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 23 employees, of whom 4 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $78,000. Patrons make 220,000 visits annually, and check out materials 260,000 times. Forty-two percent of all check-outs are children's materials.