El Paso Public Library, serving an area of 560,000 residents, has a collection of 690,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 23,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 23,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 154 employees, of whom 29 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 9 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $960,000. Patrons make 1,380,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,890,000 times. Thirty-one percent of all check-outs are children's materials.