Birmingham Public Library, serving an area of 400,000 residents, has a collection of 840,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 34,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 35,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 240 employees, of whom 63 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 20 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $1,760,000. Patrons make 2,400,000 visits annually, and check out materials 2,600,000 times. Twenty-nine percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
