Newark Free Library, serving an area of 69,000 residents, has a collection of 88,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 6,300 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 14 employees, of whom 4 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $189,000. Patrons make 180,000 visits annually, and check out materials 480,000 times. Thirty-six percent of all check-outs are children's materials.