Fairbanks North Star Borough Library, serving an area of 115,000 residents, has a collection of 270,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 9,600 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 8,800 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 50 employees, of whom 9 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and one branch library. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $380,000. Patrons make 230,000 visits annually, and check out materials 540,000 times. Thirty-five percent of all check-outs are children's materials.