Abilene Public Library, serving an area of 115,000 residents, has a collection of 180,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 7,800 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 6,900 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 38 employees, of whom 10 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and one branch library. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $400,000. Patrons make 320,000 visits annually, and check out materials 720,000 times. Twenty-nine percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
