West Hartford Public Library, serving an area of 63,000 residents, has a collection of 280,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 10,500 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 37 employees, of whom 14 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 2 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $360,000. Patrons make 500,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,050,000 times. Thirty-four percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
