Dollars, Sense and Public Libraries (2011)

This is an independent report by SGS Economics and Planning for the State Library of Victoria and Public Libraries Victoria Network, Australia.

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Dollars, Sense and Public Libraries is a major three-year project to assess the economic value of public libraries in Victoria. The results are described in this top-line summary, behind which lies a full technical report running to several hundred pages. The technical report is available from the State Library of Victoria website at www.slv.vic.gov.au.
In this summary report, we believe you will find a clear justification for the continued support of Victorian public libraries by all levels of government.
Each year, we spend $36 per capita on public libraries in Victoria. It is less than a family of four would spend on one trip to the cinema, but for this modest sum, we can enjoy free books, films, music, newspapers and magazines all year round, as well as programs, activities, computer access, expert help and a welcoming community space.
The Dollars, Sense and Public Libraries project was initiated in 2007. It followed on from the Libraries Building Communities research published in 2005, and this latest project had three aims:

  • To expand the understanding of the value of public libraries in Victoria.
  • To provide public library managers with the means to calculate their specific contribution to the communities they serve.
  • To give public library managers information and advocacy materials to build their case for library funding.

The Dollars, Sense and Public Libraries study takes the research to the next level by providing a way of measuring that value.

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