The El Paso Public Library serves more than six hundred thousand residents in El Paso, Texas. The library maintains nearly half a million volumes and circulates 1.6 million items per year. Founded in 1894, El Paso area teacher Mary Irene Stanton started with her own personal collection of one thousand books for a boys' book club, and then, in mid-1895, women were given access to this collection. Today, the library has a total of 14 branches and one bookmobile service, with continued outreach services available, including homebound services.