Libraries' Services Add Up to Good Investment :: Ohio Library Council

Libraries' services add up to good investment

This Week News: 4.27.2016 by Mark Dubovec

Libraries offer valuable public resources and services, but a recent study found they offer something more -- they're also a sound financial investment for the community.

On April 13, the Ohio Library Council issued a statewide return on investment report of Ohio's public libraries, and the findings confirmed Ohio is the premier provider of library services in the nation. Residents value their libraries.

The report said that for every dollar spent by Ohio public libraries in 2014, residents in return received $5.48 in total economic value. Additionally, Ohio has the highest library use per capita in the country, and compared to other states, Ohio libraries are among the most cost efficient with a cost per transaction rate of $2.88, well below the national average of $3.56.

Ohio is home to 251 public libraries and their branches, and 9 million residents counted as library cardholders. According to the OLC, Ohioans visit their libraries 82 million times a year, use public-library computers 20 million times and download 12.3 million digital materials such as e-books, music, magazines and videos.  READ MORE @