Fort Scott Public Library, serving an area of 8,400 residents, has a collection of 42,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 750 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,400 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes.
Staffing consists of 5 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $48,000. Patrons make 38,000 visits annually, and check out materials 75,000 times. Thirty-six percent of all check-outs are children's materials.