Durham County Library, serving an area of 220,000 residents, has a collection of 480,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 14,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 6,300 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 110 employees, of whom 35 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 7 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $630,000. Patrons make 1,050,000 visits annually, and check out materials 1,680,000 times. Thirty-eight percent of all check-outs are children's materials.