Collected here are some the studies on the economic
benefits of libraries, art organizations, and educational institutions.
Several state library associations have used these studies to successfully
receive major funding increases through their respectively legislative
bodies. Since 2005, ILA has been exploring the possibility of conducting
a similar study in Illinois.
Library Valuation Assessment
Stresses Sharing National Agenda
The attached
new report from the Americans for Libraries (ALC), "Worth
Their Weight: An Assessment of the Evolving Field of Library Valuation,"
takes a close look at the growing effort to quantify the value of
libraries, as exemplified in 17 valuation and impact studies summarized,
and points toward better analysis in the future. The project funded
by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. "While the filed
of library evaluation is still young, we have observed several salient
trends," write coauthors Susan Imholz, consultant to ALC on
the Gates Initiative, and Jennifer Weil Arns, University of South
Carolina School of Library and Information Science.
Results of the Illinois Return on Investment Study
Paula T. Kaufman, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University administrators are asking library directors to demonstrate their library's value to the institution in easily articulated quantitative terms that focus on outputs rather than on traditionally reported input measures. This paper reports on a study undertaken at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that sought to measure the return on the university's investment in its library. The study sought to develop a quantitative measure that recognizes the library's value in supporting the university's strategic goals, using grant income generated by faculty using library materials. It also sought to confirm the benefits of using electronic resources and the resulting impact on productivity over a 10-year period. The results of this study, which is believed to be the first of its kind, represent only one piece of the answer to the challenge of representing the university's total return from its investment in its library.
Florida study finds that public libraries return $6.54
for every $1.00 invested
The comprehensive study
to assess taxpayer return-on-investment in Florida's public libraries
used a variety of data collection and analysis methods, including
the public library annual data reports to the State Library and
Archives of Florida, a statewide household telephone survey of adults,
in-library surveys of adults, a follow-up survey of the libraries,
surveys of organizations, such as businesses
and schools, and an input-output econometric model. Key findings:
- Overall, Florida's public libraries return $6.54 for every $1.00
invested from all sources.
- For every $6,448 spent on public libraries from public funding
sources in Florida, one job is created.
- For every dollar of public support spent on public libraries
in Florida, gross regional product increases by $9.08.
- For every dollar of public support spent on public libraries
in Florida, income (wages) increases by $12.66.
Other Studies & Articles:
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