Merrick Library, serving an area of 18,900 residents, has a collection of 84,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 4,200 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 3,900 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 23 employees, of whom 6 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and one branch library. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $198,000. Patrons make 250,000 visits annually, and check out materials 340,000 times. Twenty-three percent of all check-outs are children's materials.