This page provides information about your return on investment as a library user. Many studies have been done to determine how much value public library users get back for their tax dollars. The library uses tax dollars paid by Jefferson County residents to purchase materials, plan public programs and classes, access proprietary online resources, provide computer and Internet access and more. Each time you use one of these free resources, you get a return that tends to be of greater value than what you paid to support the Library. Studies from across the country show overwhelmingly that public libraries give you a high return on every tax dollar.

You get a return on your investment by using materials and services that are free at the Library, but might require purchase elsewhere. The Library provides direct economic benefits to the community by providing free and accessible resources for students, job seekers and small business owners. The community also benefits indirectly: when our neighbors and local businesses use library services to support their educations or careers, everyone benefits from a growth in business, earning power, or state and local income.

What is ROI | Library ROI Studies | Individual Return on Investment Calculator

What is ROI?
Return on Investment (often just called ROI) is used frequently in business and finance to calculate the profit one is likely to receive from an investment. Typically, costs and expenditures are compared with potential benefits to determine the real value, or the ROI, of that investment.

In the case of libraries, the tax dollars supporting the library are weighed against the potential costs of services or materials available for free at the library. Library ROI studies may also take into account the time and money their patrons require to visit and use the library. Library ROI studies consistently show that public libraries give a high return on investment, providing anywhere from $2 to $10 in return for every tax dollar received. In other words, your investment in the library is profitable when you consider the value of the books or other materials you check out, the programs you attend, and other services that you can get from the library because of your initial investment. The best part is that you increase your ROI the more you use the library.

Below you will find several studies of library ROI from the past few years. Please feel free to take a look, and then be sure to explore the online calculator to see your own personal ROI.

Library ROI Studies:
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Community Impact and Benefits (2006)
The Economic Impact of Libraries in Indiana (2007)
The Economic Value of Vermont's Public Libraries (2006-2007)
Libraries: How They Stack Up - OCLC (2003)
Making Cities Stronger: Public Library Contributions to Local Economic Development - Urban Libraries Council (2007)
Placing a Value on Public Library Services - St. Louis Public Library (1998)
Public Libraries, A Wise Investment (LRS Reports on Colorado Libraries)
South Carolina Public Library Economic Impact Study (2005)
Southwestern Ohio's Return from Investment in Public Libraries (2006)
Taxpayer Return on Investment in Florida Public Libraries (2004)
Taxpayer Return-on-Investment (ROI) in Pennsylvania Public Libraries (2006)

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¹ For additional information, see Fredman (2000). Dictionary of Business Terms, 564, 594 and Morgenson and Harvey (2002). The New York Times Dictionary of Money and Investing, 281.