Amarillo Public Library, serving an area of 176,000 residents, has a collection of 580,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 58,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 18,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 69 employees, of whom 13 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $520,000. Patrons make 690,000 visits annually, and check out materials 2,800,000 times. Thirty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.