Palestine Public Library, serving an area of 38,000 residents, has a collection of 69,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 3,900 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 2,700 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 15 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $66,000. Patrons make 132,000 visits annually, and check out materials 147,000 times. Twenty-five percent of all check-outs are children's materials.