Meridian-Lauderdale County Library, serving an area of 75,000 residents, has a collection of 120,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 3,800 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 3,800 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 16 employees, of whom 2 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $147,000. Patrons make 310,000 visits annually, and check out materials 250,000 times. Twenty-seven percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
