Kanawha County Library, serving an area of 189,000 residents, has a collection of 480,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 32,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 12,600 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 138 employees, of whom 24 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 $1,050,000. Patrons make 1,000,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,100,000 times. Twenty-nine percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
