Salem Public Library, serving an area of 25,000 residents, has a collection of 72,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 4,400 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 5,800 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 20 employees, of whom 5 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $176,000. Patrons make 189,000 visits annually, and check out materials 390,000 times. Twenty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.