This section surveys national research of particular interest to library advocates. If you have a story, link or report to suggest, please email research@actforlibraries.org.

• Overall Economic Impact
• Economic and Educational Impact
• Economic Impact and Arts and Culture
• Use and Opinion

Overall Economic Impact

Tax Payer Return on Investment in Pennsylvania Public Libraries (2006) (PDF)

by Jose-Marie Griffiths, Donald King, Sarah Aemi et al

This statewide study was commissioned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth to determine the economic benefit of public libraries for Pennsylvanians and to what extent citizens feel the public library contributes to their overall economic well-being. The findings of this study highlight both economic and other benefits achieved through use of public libraries. The report uses four integrated surveys to gather library user (and non-user) information, cost/benefit analysis using contingent valuation, and a statewide economic input-output model (REMI) to determine secondary economic impacts.

Placing Economic Value on the Services of the Middle Country Public Library in Suffolk County, New York (2006) (PDF)

by Pearl Kamer, Ph.D

This individual library study analyzes the cost of operating the Middle Country Public Library and compares the value of the services provided with the tax dollars used to support the library. The study also measures the secondary economic impacts of the library’s operating expenditures on the community using BEA U.S. Department of Commerce data and a software modeler. This report uses the 1998 St. Louis economic valuation study as a guide for defining the methodology.

(Note: the summary above was taken, in part, from the Executive Summary or Introduction of the report.)

Economic Benefits of Public Libraries: Value for Money
Southwestern Ohio's Return from Investment in Public Libraries (2006) (PDF)

by Levin, Driscoll & Fleeter
for Nine Ohio Public Libraries in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren Counties

Nine libraries in Ohio’s four southwestern counties provide services to about 1.5 million residents. The communities served by these libraries range from the urban neighborhoods of Cincinnati and Middletown to rural communities in Clermont and Warren Counties. The libraries themselves range from very large to very small. For purposes of estimating the economic value of these libraries using a traditional cost/benefit formula, this report aggregated their expenditures and services. It also dedicated a chapter to discussing the fact that the indirect value of the libraries’ work is incalculable. In this discussion the authors note that it is important for the library profession to come to terms with this, citing that the value of reading programs, educational programs, support to job seekers, support for the blind and elderly, cultural programs, and cooperation with community programs have gone unmeasured, and therefore, underappreciated.

(Note: the summary above was taken, in part, from the Executive Summary or Introduction of the report.)

The Economic Value of the Port Jefferson Free Library in Suffolk County, New York (2006) (PDF)

by Pearl Kamer, Ph.D.

This individual library study analyzes the cost of operating the Port Jefferson Free Library and compares the value of the services provided with the tax dollars used to support the library. The study also measures the secondary economic impacts of the library’s operating expenditures on the Long Island economy. This report uses the 1998 St. Louis economic valuation study as a guide for defining the methodology. This is one of five studies in our database by this author.

(Note: the summary above was taken, in part, from the Executive Summary or Introduction of the report.)

The Economic Impact of Public Libraries on South Carolina (2005) (PDF)

by Daniel D. Barron, Robert Williams, Stephen Bajjaly, Jennifer Arns, and Steve Wilson

This county-wide study analyzes the value of the services provided by the 42 libraries in the Suffolk County Library Cooperative with the tax dollars used to support them. The report also measures the secondary economic impacts of the libraries’ operating expenditures on the community using BEA U.S. Department of Commerce data and a software modeler. This report uses the 1998 St. Louis economic valuation study (Holt & Elliott), and the Florida 2005 “Tax Payer Return on Investment Study” (Griffiths et al) as a guide for defining the methodology.

The Seattle Central Public Library:
Economic Benefits Assessment (2005) (PDF)

by Berk & Associates for the Seattle Public Library

This city library study examines the benefits that the new Seattle Central Public Library brings to the city. Measures include: contributions to economic activity, community character and livability, image and identity, and a statistical analysis of foot traffic in the library system over a period of 8 years. These combined measures are unique in the literature in assessing the value of the library. The report also features an in-depth historical account of the library's history that makes the document a pleasure to read.

Placing an Economic Value on the Services of Public Libraries in Suffolk County (2005) (PDF)

by Pearl Kamer, Ph.D.
for the Suffolk County Library Cooperative

This county-wide study analyzes the value of the services provided by the 42 libraries in the Suffolk County Library Cooperative with the tax dollars used to support them. The report also measures the secondary economic impacts of the libraries operating expenditures on the community using BEA U.S. Department of Commerce data and a software modeler. This report uses the 1998 St. Louis economic valuation study (Holt & Elliott), and the Florida 2005 Tax Payer Return on Investment Study (Griffiths et al) as a guide for defining the methodology. This is one of five studies in our database by this author.

State of Florida Taxpayer Return on Investment in Public Libraries (2004) (PDF)

by Prof. Jose-Marie Griffiths, Donald King, Julie Harrington, Thomas Lynch, Christopher Tomer

This statewide study uses multiple types of analysis including: traditional cost/benefit, secondary economic impacts, and an evaluative framework that allows libraries to compare their economic impact to that of other types of organizations. The project uses standard models of economic values, most notably the model developed by Regional Economic Models, Inc., and the contingent valuation method. It concludeds that all taxpayers in Florida benefit from the public libraries through their considerable contribution to education, the economy, tourism, retirement, and improvement of quality of life. It also demonstrates that consumers and taxpayers would pay considerably more for the services they receive from the public library in the open marketplace, assuming public libraries did not exist.

Making Book:
Gambling on the Future of Our Libraries (2004) (PDF)

A White Paper from KC Consensus
By Jennifer Wilding, Therese Bigelow, and Susan Rohrer for the Kansas City Public Library

This city public library system study was included to illustrate the Hennen HALPR Index. To determine the quality of public libraries in metro Kansas City, the Consensus group conducted a study using the Hennen’s American Public Library Rating Index (HAPLR Index) as a means of evaluating the quality of service provided to Kansas City residents. The HAPLR Index combines both input and output measures in a system that ranks libraries based on a weighted score. We included this study to showcase the Hennen Index as a method for assessing public library efficiency and quality of service; it provides one of the clearest and most thorough descriptions of how the HAPLR Index is constructed. However, the study also summarizes emerging trends in library service, changes in patron behavior, taxing structure, and takes a comprehensive look at the evolving discussion of national standards for public libraries. It outlines how the state of Kansas developed its own library standards for service and also suggests new national library standards (see results).

St. Louis Library Team: Cost Benefit Analysis to Value America’s Medium Sized and Smaller Public Libraries (2003)

by Glen Holt, Donald Elliott, et al, funded by the IMLS

This study assesses the cost/benefits of nine municipal public libraries in the Chicago, Houston, and Seattle-Tacoma areas. The purpose of this study was to apply cost/benefit analysis to the valuing of services of mid-size and smaller public libraries. The service area defined included libraries serving populations of 50,000 to 150,000 persons. In addition to calculating the cost/benefit of the nine libraries (3 in Chicago area, 3 in Houston area, and 3 in Seattle-Tacoma area), the study also reports the construction process as a manual for other libraries to follow in a very clear manner, including how to publicize study results to a community. This study followed a previous IMLS-funded study that applied cost/benefit analysis to five large public libraries. This document reports the results of a two-year (2001–2003) research grant to the St. Louis Public Library (SLPL) and a team of researchers.

(Note: the summary above was taken, in part, from the Executive Summary or Introduction of the report.)

Public Library Use in Pennsylvania: Identifying Uses, Benefits, and Impacts (1998) (PDF)

by Prof. Charles R. McClure, John Carlo Bertot, Ph.D.,
Florida State University Information Use Management and Policy Institute

This state-wide study focuses on identifying and describing users of public libraries in Pennsylvania, their uses of public library resources and services, the benefits and impacts that result from such use, and the role of public libraries in supporting economic development at both the local and statewide levels. The methodology combines user surveys, site visits, and logs of selected significant user benefits and impacts. In summary, the study finds that benefits and impacts of libraries include their contribution to the economic productivity of the local community and state and improvements to the cultural and educational environment; most significantly, Pennsylvania public libraries provide these and other benefits with extremely limited resources.

(Note: the summary above was taken, in part, from the Executive Summary or Introduction of the report.)

Economic and Educational Impact

The Engaged Library:
Chicago Stories of Community Building by the Urban Libraries Council (PDF)

by the Urban Libraries Council
(Fall 2005)

This 30-page report tells the story of how the city of Chicago was effective in making public libraries the center of community life in Chicago’s neighborhoods. With contributions from the Commissioner of Libraries for the Chicago Public Library System, Mary Dempsey, the report illustrates how the city:

• formed institutional partnerships with community organizations
• made cultural connections using the library as community meeting place
• met the need for new programming for young people
• assisted the library in becoming an economic generator for local businesses

The last 15 pages of the report are dedicated to a ‘toolbox’ with planning sheets that will aid library professionals and advocates in thinking about creating their own community outreach plan.

Economic Impact and Arts and Culture

Economic Importance of Arts and Cultural Attractions in Louisville (2000) (PDF)

by Paul A. Coomes, Ph.D.

This report looks at how a city Library system compares with other cultural institutions in terms of its use and efficiency. In the comparison, the Louisville Free Public Library system showed it has very high attendance rates, and showcased its efficiency and value. It also emphasized the library’s role in fulfilling community needs which no other cultural institutions can. This study represents a unique approach to valuating libraries that complements other methods, in combination with financial valuation (which has yet to be done) could provide a very robust portrait of the library’s true value.

Use and Opinion

From Good To Great: A Competitive Library for a Competitive City
An Assessment of Louisville Free Public Library (2007)

by Americans for Libraries Council

The Louisville Free Public Library commissioned this study from ALC to answer two key questions: (1) Can the LFPL move from good to great and (2) if so, what will it take? To answer these questions, ALC draws upon planning studies concerning the future of Louisville and the LFPL, its own knowledge of current library developments, and recent research studies by ALC and other national organizations. The resulting report evaluates the library’s capacity to grow from many perspectives and concludes with “the possibility for LFPL not only to be a top-tier library but also to be a global leader… with new public investment commensurate with the city’s needs and vision.”

Economic Benefits and Impacts From Public Libraries in the State of Florida (2001)

by Prof. Charles R. McClure, John Carlo Bertot, Ph.D.,
Florida State University Information Use Management and Policy Institute

The purpose of this statewide study was to identify and describe the economic impacts and benefits of Florida public libraries, to define the role of public libraries in economic development. The methods utilized were literature review, focus groups, financial analysis of Florida public libraries, a statewide sample survey of public library patrons, a survey of library directors and branch managers, librarian service logs, group interviews. In addition, the study explored return on investment (ROI) strategies and methods that could be applied to a quantitative ROI study for the state. The study was modeled in part on McClure and Bertot’s 1998 study, “Public Library Use in Pennsylvania.”