Dowdell Library Of South Amboy, serving an area of 7,800 residents, has a collection of 52,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 690 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,610 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 6 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $52,000. Patrons make 40,000 visits annually, and check out materials 50,000 times. Forty-two percent of all check-outs are children's materials.