Gadsden-Etowah County Public Library, serving an area of 80,000 residents, has a collection of 198,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 6,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 4,400 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 27 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $110,000. Patrons make 320,000 visits annually, and check out materials 280,000 times. Twenty-five percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
