Brownsville Public Library, serving an area of 176,000 residents, has a collection of 180,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 660 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 33 employees, of whom 5 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $300,000. Patrons make 280,000 visits annually, and check out materials 176,000 times. Thirty-five percent of all check-outs are children's materials.