Osterhout Free Library, serving an area of 126,000 residents, has a collection of 230,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 9,200 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 3,100 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 46 employees, of whom 5 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $270,000. Patrons make 198,000 visits annually, and check out materials 320,000 times. Twenty-three percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
