Florida study finds that public libraries return $6.54 for every $1.00 invested

The comprehensive study to assess taxpayer return-on-investment in Florida's public libraries used a variety of data collection and analysis methods, including the public library annual data reports to the State Library and Archives of Florida, a statewide household telephone survey of adults, in-library surveys of adults, a follow-up survey of the libraries, surveys of organizations, such as businesses and schools, and an input-output econometric model. Key findings:

• Overall, Florida's public libraries return $6.54 for every $1.00 invested from all sources.
• For every $6,448 spent on public libraries from public funding sources in Florida, one job is created.
• For every dollar of public support spent on public libraries in Florida, gross regional product increases by $9.08.
• For every dollar of public support spent on public libraries in Florida, income (wages) increases by $12.66.

View the report at http://webjunction.org:980/wj/documents/8495.pdf