Arlington Department Of Libraries, serving an area of 189,000 residents, has a collection of 500,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 36,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 18,000 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 56 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 7 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $1,260,000. Patrons make 1,380,000 visits annually, and check out materials 2,400,000 times. Thirty-three percent of all check-outs are children's materials.