Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library, serving an area of 250,000 residents, has a collection of 500,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 18,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 13,200 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 75 employees, of whom 12 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 11 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $540,000. Patrons make 750,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,380,000 times. Thirty-two percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
