Rapid City Public Library, serving an area of 60,000 residents, has a collection of 100,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 5,800 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 5,400 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 32 employees, of whom 8 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $260,000. Patrons make 370,000 visits annually, and check out materials 540,000 times. Twenty-three percent of all check-outs are children's materials.