Libraries are a good deal!

   What you already know, is now shown in a recent study by the State Library and Archives of Florida.

   Libraries provide essential services to a community whether helping people of all ages learn something new or improve existing skills.  Libraries can help to attract people and businesses to an area.  Libraries provide a sense of community.

   Visits to libraries have increased  in recent years in spite of stagnant funding due to nationwide economic conditions.

   The Taxpayer Return on Investment in Florida Public Libraries study, conducted by the Haas Center at the University of West Florida, (and funded by a grant from the federal government) shows that for every tax dollar received, Florida public libraries (in 2008 when the study was done), provided $8.32 in value.   This, of course, is an average throughout the state. 

   Think about it this way. If you had to buy outright  all of the books and DVDs that you borrow…, if you had to pay outright for the computer classes that you attend…., if there was a charge to attend children’s programs or to use the meeting room...that's quite a bill.  Your public library provides these things for your use.

   Think about this and how libraries benefit businesses.  On your trip to the library you might stop and have lunch, go to a store, buy gas...things you might have done anyway...but the lunch and a store purchase might be extra purchases.  Businesses benefited by your trip to the library.   
   Buildings are built and maintained, supplies are purchased.  Local businesses can and do provide those services, again local businesses benefit.

   Libraries are a good deal!