Stanislaus County Free Library, serving an area of 460,000 residents, has a collection of 630,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 11,500 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 13,200 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 115 employees, of whom 26 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 12 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $960,000. Patrons make 1,540,000 visits annually, and check out materials 2,200,000 times. Fifty percent of all check-outs are children's materials.