Return on investment (ROI)

The economic return to taxpayers is $4.06 per dollar of taxpayer support. The ROI is calculated by dividing the economic contribution of public libraries per capita ($134.16) by the public tax support per capita ($33.07). This return per dollar of taxpayer funds comes back to taxpayers in the form of the value of public library services and the direct economic contribution of public libraries to the state economy. In addition to the measurable services and expenditures that add value to the state economy, there are numerous other services that are valuable but at this time can’t be calculated from available data. The contributions of public libraries to overall literacy, to helping people with special needs, to supporting the efforts of K-12 schools, to providing community gathering space, and to supplying data needs of big and small businesses are additional and valuable contributions to the state economy (p. 33).

The public libraries of MN on the state economyCapital Expenditures: The impact of payroll  associated with public library capital expenditures delivers an impact of more than $35.5 million dollars to the State. Operations: The impact of payroll associated with public library operations delivers an impact of more than $260.8 million dollars to the State.Capital Expenditures: The impact of sales associated with public library capital expenditures delivers an impact of more than $65.3 million dollars to the State. Operations: The impact of sales [services] associated with public library operations delivers an impact of more than $366.4 million dollars to the State. 

... 92% of those polled felt that public libraries were a good investment for their tax dollars. And, when told that less than 1 percent of the county's budget and only four-tenths of 1 percent of the state's budget was spent on libraries, more than 60 percent stated that more money should be invested in libraries by both local and state government.

Overall, Florida's public libraries return $8.32 for every $1.00 from all sources. The total revenue investment in Florida's public libraries was $661.5 million in 2008. Based upon an analysis of what would happen if public libraries ceased to exist, the total economic return attributable to the existence of public libraries is $6.23 billion. For every $3,491 spent on public libraries from public funding sources in Florida, one job (in the economy, not just in libraries) is created. For every dollar of public support spent on public libraries in Florida, Gross Regional Product (the value of all goods and services produced in the state) increases by $10.57. For every dollar of public support spent on public libraries in Florida, income (wages) increases by $22.97.