Martins Ferry Public Library, serving an area of 31,000 residents, has a collection of 198,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 7,800 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 11,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 28 employees, of whom 5 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 6 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $320,000. Patrons make 147,000 visits annually, and check out materials 310,000 times. Thirty-one percent of all check-outs are children's materials.