Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, serving an area of 154,000 residents, has a collection of 370,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 17,600 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 22,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 120 employees, of whom 24 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $690,000. Patrons make 630,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,100,000 times. Thirty-two percent of all check-outs are children's materials.