Bethel Public Library, serving an area of 18,000 residents in
Fairfield County, has a collection of 88,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 2,500 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,600 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 9 employees, of whom 4 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $120,000. Patrons make 160,000 visits annually, and check out materials 154,000 times. Forty-two percent of all check-outs are children's materials.