Grand Rapids Public Library, serving an area of 198,000 residents, has a collection of 1,000,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 40,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 13,200 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 115 employees, of whom 30 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 6 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $1,150,000. Patrons make 520,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,320,000 times. Twenty-five percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
