Carlsbad Public Library, serving an area of 26,000 residents, has a collection of 63,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 1,050 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,200 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 12 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $48,000. Patrons make 126,000 visits annually, and check out materials 96,000 times. Thirty-three percent of all check-outs are children's materials.