State Library of Queensland's commissioned study The Library Dividend: A guide to the socio-economic value of Queensland's Public Libraries was launched on 18 September. The launch was held in conjunction with the Queensland Public Libraries Association event 'Libraries... the fourth ‘R''.
The study, by SGS Economics and Planning, explores the value of public libraries in Queensland. It finds that for every $100 invested by local government and state government, Queensland public libraries deliver $230 dollars worth of value to their communities.SGS conducted the research using numerous methods to calculate the value of Queensland libraries to the community, rather than a market value.
SGS Principal and Partner Andrew McDougall and SGS Consultant Mark Donaldson made presentations overviewing the research and describing the Library Valuation Calculator developed as part of the study.
Read the Summary report, technical report, key findings, and presentations by Mark Donaldson and Andrew McDougall on the State Library of Queensland website.
Read the Brisbane Times article about the launch