Fort Worth Public Library, serving an area of 540,000 residents, has a collection of 1,100,000 books and periodicals; in addition, there are 75,000 CDs, records, cassettes and other audio materials, as well as 56,000 video items, such as DVDs and VHS tapes. Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
Staffing consists of 260 employees, of whom 84 are fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system comprises one central library and 14 branch libraries. Annual expenditures on the library collection total $2,100,000. Patrons make 1,890,000 visits annually, and check out materials 6,600,000 times. Twelve percent of all check-outs are children's materials.
