New Hanover County Public Library, serving an area of 160,000 residents, has a collection of 390,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 16,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 7,800 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 50 employees, of whom 16 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 4 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $690,000. Patrons make 800,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,760,000 times. Twenty-nine percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
