Atchison Library, serving an area of 10,000 residents, has a collection of 78,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 800 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,890 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 9 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $38,000. Patrons make 50,000 visits annually, and check out materials 120,000 times. Twenty-six percent of all check-outs are children's materials.