Bear Public Library, serving an area of 80,000 residents, has a collection of 78,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 6,600 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 5,400 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 12 employees, of whom 3 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $160,000. Patrons make 270,000 visits annually, and check out materials 720,000 times. Forty-four percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
