Salem Public Library, serving an area of 40,000 residents, has a collection of 120,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 3,700 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 4,800 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 21 employees, of whom 6 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $176,000. Patrons make 240,000 visits annually, and check out materials 440,000 times. Thirty-one percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
