Measuring Your Library's Value

Book excerpt: With tax-funded organizations under microscopic scrutiny, library directors need to make a strong public case for the value their library provides. Measuring Your Library's Value, designed to serve large to medium-sized public libraries, gives librarians the tools to conduct a defensible and credible Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA). Based on research funded by IMLS and PLA, this hands-on reference covers the economic basics with librarian-friendly terms and examples, preparing library leaders to collaborate with economist-consultants. Library directors and trustees will learn how to credibly measure the dollars and cents value your community receives from library services and access proven examples for communicating what different community stakeholders need to hear.