Return on Investment: OLC

Finding from Return on Investment of Ohio’s Public Libraries &Comparison with Other States, Howard Fleeter & Associates (April 2016):

Ohio has the second highest percentage of registered borrowers at
77.7%, behind only Minnesota.

Ohio has the highest number of library transactions per capita in the
country, utilizing library materials and services at a rate that is more than
twice the national average.

Ohio also ranks first nationally in library visits per capita, averaging 7.5
visits per year for each person.

While Ohio public libraries provide an extensive array of services to
patrons, they also do so in a cost effective manner. Ohio has one of the
lowest costs per library transaction, ranking 41st nationally and well below
the national average cost.

Ohio’s public libraries provided nearly $2.7 billion in direct economic value
(or “benefit”) to Ohio residents in 2014.

When the economic benefit above is compared with statewide total
operating expenditures of $687.5 million, the ROI from Ohio’s public
libraries in 2014 was 3.89. This means that for every $1 spent by public
libraries in Ohio, $3.89 in benefit was delivered to Ohio residents.

When economic multiplier effects are included, each $1 spent by Ohio
public libraries returns a total economic value of $5.48 to Ohioans.