Crystal Lake Public Library, serving an area of 38,000 residents, has a collection of 168,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 9,200 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 8,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 39 employees, of whom 9 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $320,000. Patrons make 290,000 visits annually, and check out materials 630,000 times. Fifty-two percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
