Kingsport Public Library, serving an area of 38,000 residents, has a collection of 126,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 4,400 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 1,890 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 17 employees, of whom 4 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and one branch library. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $147,000. Patrons make 198,000 visits annually, and check out materials 189,000 times. Thirty-one percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
