Comments on: defining what you are for (just like porn)

By: Hugh

Hugh — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:25:58 +0000

thanks mark, that’s a neat looking doc. looking forward to reading in detail.

By: Mark K.

Mark K. — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:41:30 +0000

Just came in on a mailing list…

“An Indiana University report has confirmed the economic value of the public libraries: in Indiana, a total market value of goods and services estimated at $629.9 million and a return of $2.38 on each dollar of investment. The November report, by the Indiana Business Research Center at IU’s Kelley School of Business, concludes that public libraries are a good value, serving as ‘an important channel for literacy, education, and information.’”

http://www.ibrc.indiana.edu/studies/EconomicImpactOfLibraries_2007.pdf

By: Hugh

Hugh — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:51:37 +0000

Andrew you can have big jugs back.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:48:10 +0000

Hugh,

I lent you my collection of ‘big jugs’ magazines at Xmas. You said you needed them for a study. Is this study complete & may I have them back?

By: Mark K.

Mark K. — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:34:49 +0000

i hope, for the sake of the long-term viability of the atwater library, that you are wrong there.

Oh dear. I hope I’m wrong, too.

so, i’d argue that a compelling case to society at large for supporting a library like ours (where the donors are not typically the users),

I’m not familiar with your situation (clearly), but it sounds like you might want to be investigating the feasibility of making changes to your funding model? If you are currently relying on a donor base that is in danger of drying up.

is that the work we do to give a public space for immigrants, students, the elderly etc is actually an important part of keeping the city stable.

That sounds right to me.

I think there’s also an efficiency argument to be made: Instead of running to one place for computer classes, another place for job hunting resources, yet another for early childhood literacy support, etc., people can just come to the library. In theory, that saves money (fewer locations to fund) and increases return on investment (easier to match services with target service populations).

I bet you’ll find that areas with really vibrant & healthy public libraries have lower crime rates etc. than similar areas without. so I bet there is a connection.

I have seen studies correlating strong public libraries with healthy local economies, property values, etc. I’m sorry that I don’t have citations off the top of my head, though.

@Mat: use social harmony then. good middle ground word.

Yeah, “cohesion” and “not antagonistic” are not exactly the same thing.

By: Mat

Mat — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:27:32 +0000

use social harmony then. good middle ground word.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:25:08 +0000

gah. you’re breaking my theory! (tho i guess the definition of stable is up for debate)….

By: Mat

Mat — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:56:31 +0000

i have lived in both types of cities (those with, and without social cohesion) and both were equally stable, except i was much happier in cities where i felt as part of a local community. so i suppose it’s a happiness thing. social cohesion breeds happiness in the participating individuals (participating in those activities which promote SC), which may (or may not) permeate outwards and create indirect (and positively reinforcing) benefits to the rest of the community. libraries are one of these SC anchors.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:41:31 +0000

well, what’s so great about “social cohesion”? or put another way, what’s wrong with living in a city that’s got no social cohesion?

By: Mat

Mat — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:30:51 +0000

> the work we do to give a public space for immigrants, students, the elderly etc is actually an important part of keeping the city stable

that’s close, but not quite right to me. stability? i don’t know that libraries stabilize per se. i think it’s more “social cohesion” than stability…