Minnesota Public Libraries' Return on Investment

TitleMinnesota Public Libraries' Return on Investment
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsBureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER), Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE), University of Minnesota Duluth
Date Published12/2011
InstitutionBureau of Business and Economic Research, Labovitz School of Business and Economics, University of Minnesota Duluth
CityDuluth, MN
URLhttp://melsa.org/melsa/assets/File/Library_final.pdf
Impact Statement: 
All education groups feel public libraries are important in every community
Concept of return on taxpayer investment can assist libraries
Few want a decrease in Public Library economic support
Higher income households use libraries more frequently
highly educated households frequent the libraries more often
Importance of Having a Public Library in Every Community
Libraries have value to neighborhoods
Library partnerships have value
Majority feel having a library in every community is important
Majority of all adult age groups use the public library
Minnesota Public Libraries' ROI
Minnesotans feel public libraries are important
Monetized impacts and other benefits from public library annual operations
Proximity to the library has value
Public Libraries are very important to communities
Public Libraries ROI
Public Library of MN add to the state economy
Public Library Stakeholders
Services of the library have value.
Social Return on Investment in Public Libraries
Support of libraries does not vary by gender
The average household would be willing to donate between $31.7 and $38.3 US dollars
The collection of materials in the library has value.
The educational programs and materials, as well as the educational mission of the library have value.
The expertise of the library staff has value.
The library facility as a gathering place has value
The technology for use in the library has value.
Value of Adult Public Library Circulation
Value of Adult Public Library Programs
Value of Children's Public Library Programs
Value of Juvenile Public Library Circulation
Value of Public Internet Computers at the Library
Value of Public Library Reference Transactions
Value of Young Adult Public Library Programs