Whittier Public Library, serving an area of 84,000 residents, has a collection of 310,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 10,500 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 6,300 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 44 employees, of whom 12 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and one branch library. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $420,000. Patrons make 460,000 visits annually, and check out materials 840,000 times. Thirty-seven percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
