The Taxpayer Return-on-Investment (ROI) in Pennsylvania Public Libraries study was commissioned by the PA Department of Education's Office of Commonwealth Libraries, in collaboration with the PA Library Association, to determine the economic benefit of public libraries in Pennsylvania.

The Results:

• PA's 630 library outlets, serving 12 million Pennsylvanians, provide a return on investment of $5.50 in benefits for every $1 of tax support
• If we didn't have public libraries, the economic loss would amount to $1.34 million annually
• Of 9.1 million adults in PA, 51.6 percent visited a public library in person during a year's time, 13.2 percent connected with one online
• In all, public libraries in PA reported 40.8 million in-person visits in the year preceding the study

Local Library Action Kit Materials:

• How to use the Kit (PDF)
• Talking Points (PDF)
• FAQs (PDF)
• Sample article for library newsletters (MS Word)
• Sample Op Ed (MS Word)
• Sample Letter 1 (MS Word)
• Sample Letter 2 (MS Word)
• Sample Letter 3 (MS Word)
• Sample Letter 4 (MS Word)
• B&W Brochure (PDF)
• Color Brochure
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Copy of full report (caution--large PDF file)

Commonwealth Libraries ROI website:

• Download radio spots