Bessemer Public Library, serving an area of 3,400 residents, has a collection of 16,800 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 600 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 880 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of one employee, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $13,800. Patrons make 11,000 visits annually, and check out materials 25,000 times. Thirty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
