Wharton County Library, serving an area of 42,000 residents, has a collection of 84,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 4,400 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 2,300 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 15 employees, including one fully accredited librarian, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $69,000. Patrons make 154,000 visits annually, and check out materials 220,000 times. Forty-six percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
