Gaines County Library, serving an area of 14,700 residents, has a collection of 42,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 630 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 6 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and one branch library. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $24,000. Patrons make 26,000 visits annually, and check out materials 160,000 times. Forty percent of all check-outs are children's materials.