Elizabeth Free Public Library, serving an area of 120,000 residents, has a collection of 440,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 23,000 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 54 employees, of whom 17 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 3 branch libraries, plus one bookmobile. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $440,000. Patrons make 290,000 visits annually, and check out materials 240,000 times. Seventeen percent of all check-outs are children's materials.