West Des Moines Public Library, serving an area of 46,000 residents, has a collection of 126,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 7,500 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 24 employees, of whom 6 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $250,000. Patrons make 310,000 visits annually, and check out materials 630,000 times. Fifty percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
