Palatine Public Library District, serving an area of 88,000 residents, has a collection of 300,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 18,900 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 16,800 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 72 employees, of whom 11 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 2 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $660,000. Patrons make 660,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,760,000 times. Forty-four percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
