A new statewide study examining the economic impacts of public libraries has revealed they have generated over $3.8 billion in value to local communities \u2014 a return of $4.74 for every $1 invested.<\/p>\n
The report<\/a>, “Beyond the Stacks: Measuring the Economic and Community Value of Texas Public Libraries” was conducted by third-party consultancy JBK Economics Group in partnership with the Texas Library Association. About 300 of the total 513 public libraries in Texas participated in a survey for the report.<\/p>\n A major finding from the survey revealed that public libraries create billions in economic value for the communities they serve at a fraction of what it costs to pay employee wages and benefits, operating expenditures, and capital expenditures. About 11,200 jobs were directly and indirectly supported by public libraries, the report found. <\/p>\n The report found its $4.74 to $1 ratio by adding up the total value of the services provided by these institutions (an estimated $2.48 billion), and comparing it to total expenditures ($808.6 million).<\/p>\n “Public libraries had about the same economic footprint as the Texas motion picture and sound recording industry ($2.9 billion in Gross Domestic Product in 2024) or the Texas paper manufacturing industry ($4.0 billion in Gross Domestic Product in 2024),” the report said.<\/p>\n Many Dallasites are already familiar with Dallas Public Library’s expansive catalog and programming, but there are many more services the library provides that might fly under the radar. A few examples include access to subscription-based research databases and news outlets<\/a>, free notary services<\/a>, free admission to local arts and culture events through Culture Pass Dallas<\/a>, seed libraries<\/a>, and maker spaces<\/a> for creative endeavors. Individual branches also provide free Wi-Fi, computer access, meeting spaces, tax assistance, and job help.<\/p>\n