Blue Island Public Library, serving an area of 23,000 residents, has a collection of 84,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 4,600 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 2,100 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 17 employees, of whom 3 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $100,000. Patrons make 154,000 visits annually, and check out materials 115,000 times. Fifty percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
