Santa Monica Public Library, serving an area of 88,000 residents, has a collection of 360,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 19,800 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 9,200 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 96 employees, of whom 33 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $720,000. Patrons make 1,000,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,540,000 times. Twenty-six percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
