Burlingame Public Library, serving an area of 36,000 residents, has a collection of 230,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 5,800 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 3,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 37 employees, of whom 11 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and one branch library. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $330,000. Patrons make 370,000 visits annually, and check out materials 560,000 times. Twenty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.