Santa Cruz Libraries, serving an area of 210,000 residents, has a collection of 420,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 28,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 14,700 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 132 employees, of whom 31 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 9 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $1,320,000. Patrons make 1,320,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,980,000 times. Thirty-five percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
