Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, serving an area of 168,000 residents, has a collection of 500,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 30,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 46,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 147 employees, of whom 15 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library, plus 3 bookmobiles. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $2,100,000. Patrons make 500,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,680,000 times. Thirty-seven percent of all check-outs are children's materials.