Chester County Library, serving an area of 147,000 residents, has a collection of 250,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 14,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 15,400 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 80 employees, of whom 16 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $880,000. Patrons make 460,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,380,000 times. Thirty-three percent of all check-outs are children's materials.