Purchase Free Library, serving an area of 5,000 residents, has a collection of 11,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 440 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 780 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 2 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $28,000. Patrons make 12,600 visits annually, and check out materials 25,000 times. Twenty-nine percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
