Queens Borough Public Library, serving an area of 2,200,000 residents, has a collection of 9,600,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 660,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 180,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 1,200 employees, of whom 330 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 62 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $10,500,000. Patrons make 16,800,000 visits annually, and check out materials 20,000,000 times. Thirty-two percent of all check-outs are children's materials.