The Ketchikan Public Library is part of the First City Libraries system. This means it shares computer equipment, a common database, and a circulation system, with the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School district and the University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan campus. The computer system is fully integrated so each library can tell exactly what the other libraries own, thereby avoiding needless duplication and facilitating cooperative collection development. Materials owned by member libraries are, almost always, freely shared with all patrons.
The Ketchikan branch of the Alaska Court System Library maintains a collection of federal law and materials while the Public Library maintains a collection of materials on Alaska State Law. The Library also collects materials of general interest related to law and the courts, as well as, do-it-yourself business and personal law. The college library is a selective Federal Depository.
The Ketchikan Public Library also participates in an interlibrary loan program. The library is an active member of the OCLC Network, which provides access to the bibliographic holdings of libraries nationwide.