Wharton Public Library, serving an area of 6,300 residents, has a collection of 34,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 690 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 340 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 3 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $17,600. Patrons make 36,000 visits annually, and check out materials 44,000 times. Forty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.