Texas Public Libraries: Economic Benefits and Return on Investment
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Texas Public Libraries: Economic Benefits and Return on Investment Prepared for: Texas State Library and Archives Commission By the: Bureau of Business Research IC² Institute The University of Texas at Austin December 2012 This study was funded with Library Services and Technology Act funds administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION DATA Texas public libraries: economic benefits and return on investment / prepared for Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Bureau of Business Research, IC² Institute, The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, Tex. : Texas State Library and Archives Commission, [2012] p. : col. Ill. ; 28 cm. “December 2012.” Includes bibliographical references. 1. Libraries and community — Texas — Statistics. 2. Libraries — User satisfaction — Texas — Statistics. 3. Public libraries — Public relations — Texas — Statistics. 4. Public libraries – Texas – Use studies. 5. Rate of return – Texas. I. Texas State Library and Archives Commission. II. University of Texas at Austin. Bureau of Business Research III. IC² Institute “Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of years. It is not, then, an article of mere consumption but fairly of capital, and often in the case of professional men, setting out in life, it is their only capital.” Thomas Jefferson Third President of the United States “Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.” Lady Bird Johnson Former First Lady of the United States “Libraries offer, for free, the wisdom of the ages — and sages — and, simply put, there’s something for everyone inside.” Laura Bush Former First Lady of the United States “My son placed that brand new driver’s license in his wallet alongside his library card, and it occurred to me that these two documents have much in common. Both support America’s free and independent way of life. The driver’s license allows my son, and all of our sons and daughters, the individual freedom of personal mobility. The library card gives him, and all of our sons and daughters, the freedom of thought and speech so essential for members of a democratic society.” Edsel B. Ford II Board of Directors, Ford Motor Company [PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK] Texas Public Libraries: Economic Benefits and Return on Investment Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................5 Chapter I. Introduction: Scope, Methodology, Limitations .........................................................................7 Project Goals ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Data Notes, Limitations, and Safeguards .......................................................................................................................... 9 Report Overview and Organization .................................................................................................................................10 Chapter II. Key Financial Statistics of Texas Public Libraries ..................................................................13 Methodology .........................................................................................................................................................................13 Library Data ..........................................................................................................................................................................15 Statewide Economic Impacts from Library Expenditures ...........................................................................................21 Chapter III. Findings from Survey of Texas Public Library Directors ...................................................25 Chapter IV. Market Values of Library Services and Events ........................................................................35 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................................35 Circulation Values ................................................................................................................................................................35 Computer Terminals and Internet Access .......................................................................................................................39 Reference Services ...............................................................................................................................................................42 Programs ...........................................................................................................................................................................44 Volunteers ..............................................................................................................................................................................46 Wireless Internet Access .....................................................................................................................................................48 Chapter V. Case Profiles of Services and Collaborations ............................................................................51 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................................51 Chapter VI. Case Studies of Individual Library Economic Impacts .....................................................109 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................109 Chapter VII. Summary of Quantifiable Economic Impacts .....................................................................155 Appendices ...............................................................................................................................................................157 Survey of Public Library Directors .................................................................................................................................159 Measuring Internet Usage .................................................................................................................................................169 Summaries of Prior State and City Impact Studies .....................................................................................................173 Letter and Forms for Individual Library Economic Impact Estimates ...................................................................201 Changes in Library Metrics from 2010 to 2011 ...........................................................................................................209 Bibliography and References ...........................................................................................................................................215 Bureau of Business Research • IC2 Institute • The University of Texas at Austin 1 Texas Public Libraries: Economic Benefits and Return on Investment Tables 2.1. Number of Libraries by County ...............................................................................................................................16 2.2. FY2011 Capital Outlays by County ........................................................................................................................17 2.3. FY2011 Operating Expenditures By County ........................................................................................................18 2.4. FY2011 Employment by County ............................................................................................................................18 2.5. FY2011 Collection Expenditures by County .......................................................................................................19 2.6. FY2011 Other Operating Expenditures By County ............................................................................................20 2.7. FY2011 Economic Impact of Operations ..............................................................................................................23 2.8. FY2011 Economic Impact of Capital Projects .....................................................................................................23 2.9. FY2011 Economic Impacts of Library Expenditures ..........................................................................................23 3.1. Libraries by Service Area Population ......................................................................................................................25 3.2. Frequency of Resource and Service ........................................................................................................................29 3.3. Perceived Benefit of Resource/Service ..................................................................................................................29 3.4.