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First Posted: 8/26/2012
Most of us have always believed that public libraries are a valuable community resource. A study commissioned by the Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries not only proves this but also shows the significant extent to which nearly all of us rely on public libraries.
The study conducted by the University of North Carolina’s School of Information and Library Science concludes that Pennsylvania’s 474 public libraries and bookmobiles, which serve nearly 12 million Pennsylvanians, provide a return on investment of $5.50 in benefits for every $1 of tax support. That means a return of $55 for every $10 of local, state and federal taxes we invest in supporting our public libraries.
Of the 9.1 million adults in Pennsylvania, 51.6 percent visited a public library in person during a year’s time, and an additional 13.2 percent connected with one online.
In all, public libraries in Pennsylvania totaled 40.8 million in-person visits in the year preceding the study. Nearly half involved adults and nearly 40 percent involved school-age children.
People visit public libraries in person for many purposes – to check out a book, CD or DVD; to find reference information or do research; or to use a library computer just to name a few.
The study demonstrates that public libraries are used by adults, school-age and preschool children, teachers, retirees, business people and others for meeting educational, personal, family and work-related needs as well as for recreation and entertainment.
A large number of people who use online library services – close to half – are researching family or personal issues.
At least half of the time, users considered the information they obtained, whether in person or by online library services, to be “absolutely essential” to them. Users value public libraries because they perceive them to be convenient and easy to use. They believe that the information is trustworthy, that libraries are the best source of information and that using the library helps them save time and money.
All of this comes as no surprise to Jack Finnerty, director of the Albright Memorial Library.
“Libraries are, and always have been, cost effective. They allow people to share resources which they may need to access periodically…. but do not need to own,” said Finnerty.
Michele Legate, the library’s assistant head of reference, sees this every day when helping library users access the computers and book collection on the library’s second floor and sees a connection with current economic conditions.
“With the economy the way it is, we see more and more people who can’t afford a computer and Internet connection at home, people who really need to access job search and training information. I am not sure what these people would do without the library,” said Legate.
Your Lackawanna County Library System library card opens the gate to free information and entertainment in the Scranton area. You can read or listen to a bestseller, watch the latest movie releases on DVD or Blu-ray, check your investments on Morningstar, take a computer class to increase your job skills at the Computer Learning Lab, or even purchase a book at Library Express in the Mall at Steamtown. Stop by the Albright Memorial Library today to check us out.
For more information, contact the Reference Department at [email protected] or read the full report at www.palibraries.org.
‘500 Vine’ focuses on local library events and services. Find it b-weekly in Go Lackawanna.