Portsmouth Public Library, serving an area of 100,000 residents, has a collection of 300,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 7,800 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 31 employees, of whom 9 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $270,000. Patrons make 320,000 visits annually, and check out materials 780,000 times. Twenty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
