Memphis/Shelby County Library & Information Center, serving an area of 880,000 residents, has a collection of 1,760,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 96,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 80,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 440 employees, of whom 66 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 22 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $3,300,000. Patrons make 3,400,000 visits annually, and check out materials 5,000,000 times. Thirty-two percent of all check-outs are children's materials.