Value for Money: Southwestern Ohio’s Return

from Investment in Public Libraries

November 29, 2006

Levin, Driscoll & Fleeter

Overview of Study

• The objective of this report was to assess the return from the investment in 9 Public Libraries in Southwestern Ohio in 2005.

• The study included both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the benefits received by patrons as a result of the services provided by the nine library systems.

Quantitative Analysis of Library Services Included the Following:

• The estimated market value of circulated items (books, movies, music CDs, etc…)

• The estimated value to patrons of library reference services

• The estimated value to patrons of access to electronic databases subscribed to by the libraries

• The estimated value of use of library facilities and equipment

Library Usage in Southwestern Ohio (2005)

County Population# of Public Libraries

# of Card-holders

% of Card-holders

Butler 350,412 2 254,604 73%

Clermont 190,589 1 95,118 50%

Hamilton 806,652 1 375,342 47%

Warren 196,622 5 112,881 57%

Total 1,544,275 9 837,945 54%

SW Ohio Public Libraries 2005 Circulation, Staffing & Spending

Library County TotalCirculation

FTE Staff

OperatingExpenditures

Lane P. L. Butler 2,196,754 96 $6.2 Million

Middletown P.L. Butler 2,121,701 78 $5.3 Million

Clermont County P.L. Clermont 1,824,167 113 $7.1 Million

Cincinnati-Hamilton County P.L. Hamilton 14,344,449 702 $51.0 Million

Franklin P.L. Warren 466,296 28 $1.4 Million

Lebanon P.L. Warren 301,073 11 $0.9 Million

Mason P.L. Warren 584,693 19 $1.2 Million

Salem Township P.L. Warren 210,457 10 $0.7 Million

Mary L. Cook P.L. Warren 203,262 11 $0.6 Million

Totals   22,252,852 1,068 $74.5 Million

Circulation of Books, Films, and Music CDs (2005)

12,150,328

6,884,627

1,312,480

Books Films Music CDs

Circulation of Additional Library Items (2005)

576,941 558,754

356,610286,779

14,757 2,452 1,382

Estimated Market Value of Patron Borrowing (2005)

$58,278,807

$20,653,881

$8,997,050 $6,397,733 $4,083,185

Books Films Music CDs BookTapes

Book CDs

Estimated Market Value of Patron Borrowing (2005) – cont.

$3,283,620$2,884,705

$47,961 $27,032

Books ForBlind

Periodicals Digital Books E-Books

The aggregate economic value of patron borrowing of Circulated

Materials in the 9 libraries in 2005 is:

• $104,874,725

Estimated Market Value of Reference Services (2005)

$36,183,352

$14,300,000 $12,800,000

$1,299,120

ReferenceMaterials

ReferenceAnswers

ElectronicDatabases

Non-CirculatingPeriodicals

The aggregate economic value of patron use of Reference Materials in

the 9 libraries in 2005 is:

• $64,565,102

Summary of Economic Value by Type of Library Service (2005)

$104,874,725

$64,565,102

$19,715,326$1,258,667

$190,413,820

Circulation Reference ComputerUse

Other Total Value

The aggregate economic value based on the direct benefits from patron use of all services in the 9

libraries in 2005 is:

• $190,413,820

Comparison of Library Expenditures with Economic Value of Benefits

• The 9 Southwestern Ohio public libraries spent $74.5 million in 2005

• The estimated economic value of the direct benefits received by library patrons was $190.4 million in 2005

• The total economic value of library services in 2005 is $284 million once an additional $93.6 million in economic impact generated by “multiplier” effects is included

Comparison of Library Expenditures with Economic Value of Benefits

$190.4

$74.5

$93.6

$0.0

$50.0

$100.0

$150.0

$200.0

$250.0

$300.0

Return Expenditures

MillionMultiplier

MillionDirectReturn

QualitativeBenefits

$?Million

Qualitative Benefits of Library Programs in 2005

• The 9 Southwestern Ohio public libraries offered a total of 23,457programs of various types in 2005

• Total attendance at these programs was 506,376, representing more than 7% of the total 2005 patron visits at the 9 libraries

Types of Library Programs Offered to Patrons in 2005

• Programs to encourage reading

• Training to help parents and teachers teach reading

• General support for K-12 education

• Support for businesses and job seekers

• Support for the elderly, blind, and disabled

• Cultural programs

• Cooperation with community organizations

Types of Cultural Programs Offered by Libraries in 2005

• Writers workshops

• Musical or other artistic presentations

• Craft programs

• Patriotic, historical, and genealogical programs

• Cultural understanding and tolerance

Types of Organizations that use Library Meeting Rooms

• Education groups

• Businesses

• State & Local Government agencies

• Health & Social Services organizations (i.e. AA, AARP, Red Cross)

• Community & Political organizations

• Cultural & Recreational groups (i.e. Boy Scouts, Rotary, 4-H)

Value for Money: Southwestern Ohio’s Return from Investment in

Public Libraries

Using a conservative measure of value, the total quantifiable direct economic benefit of every dollar expended by

libraries in 2005 was $3.81.