Newburyport Public Library, serving an area of 16,800 residents, has a collection of 84,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 3,300 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,260 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 18 employees, of whom 2 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and one branch library. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $147,000. Patrons make 105,000 visits annually, and check out materials 161,000 times. Thirty-nine percent of all check-outs are children's materials.