Santa Maria Public Library, serving an area of 115,000 residents, has a collection of 198,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 16,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 11,500 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 31 employees, of whom 5 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $240,000. Patrons make 440,000 visits annually, and check out materials 750,000 times. Thirty-one percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
