Frequently Asked Questions
Won’t the Internet replace libraries?
Some people share a misinformed view that Google or digitization can replace libraries. There are a number of reasons why this is not about to happen.
Not everything is on the Internet. And very few substantive materials are there for free. However, libraries provide many on-line sources the customer would have to pay for – if they were available at all.
Search engines often promise to search everything, but they can’t deliver. Moreover, what they do research is often not updated daily, weekly, or even monthly, regardless of what’s advertised.
Quality control does not exist on the Internet. In addition to all the scientific, medical, and historical information (when accurate), there is also a cesspool of waste. Librarians can help sort through the haystack of websites openly available to everyone to provide the gems of reliable information.
Full-text sites are often missing important things like footnotes. Tables and graphs may not print in a readable fashion. And journal titles – and the articles themselves – may change or disappear altogether.
Research typically can require sources older than 15 years, yet not much on the Internet is more than 15 years old. And access to that older material is very expensive if it is available.
The Internet is powerful tool for finding information, but it is a poor substitute for a full-service library, and that is demonstrated as library use grows and grows across the nation.
Costa Mesa has two world-class performing arts facilities – Orange County Performing Arts Center with its two buildings, and South Coast Repertory. There are a number of high tech firms, a strong business sector, a vast array of shopping possibilities, from high end to discount, but our three small libraries have less than 1/3 the minimum space needed to serve a city of 113,000 people.
And despite the apparent fear that bigger libraries in Costa Mesa would “cost too much”, studies in at least four states have shown that libraries bring a return on investment.
The measurement of return-on-investment has been applied to many different types of organizations and community resources. While common in the for-profit sector, the application of benefit/cost, cost-effectiveness, impact and return-on-investment measures to libraries and other not-for-profit entities has lagged behind. In Florida a study found that for every dollar of public support spent on public libraries in the state, GRP increased by $9.08 and income (wages) increased by $12.66. In St. Louis, studies showed that for every $1 spent on the library, the community sees an average of $4 in return. Baltimore County Public Library was found to return $3-$6 in return. Birmingham Public Library returns $1.30-$2.70 per tax dollar. Phoenix Public Library returns over $10 in benefits per tax dollar.
Studies have shown that libraries benefit their communities in both economic and societal ways. The most commonly cited economic benefits are: access to financial information; availability of computing technology (especially the Internet); job and career resources, business resources (particularly for small businesses); books and other formats available without cost; educational support on every level; children’s programs and services; enhancement of other public services (government and social programs).
Local businesses benefit greatly from the role public libraries play in support of economic activities, and small businesses of every sort benefit in specific ways from local public libraries. In fact, studies show that relocating businesses, start-up businesses, and small businesses of all kinds (1-500 employees) were perceived as enjoying the greatest benefit from public library products and services. Indeed, participants in a Florida study noted that public libraries were listed as a reason for a business’s decision to relocate to a particular community. This is especially meaningful to Costa Mesa, because we are an incubator city for small businesses.
Many library services have economic value to individual users as well. Cost savings to patrons from borrowing materials from the library rather than having to buy them and the availability of non-print materials such as audio books and videotapes save individuals significant expenditures. Also, periodicals and newspapers result in financial benefit to individuals. Other areas benefiting the individual: career support – individuals enhance their professional skills and increase the value of their work to their employers. Service groups and organizations benefit by using meeting rooms where monetary savings can then be put toward accomplishing the group’s mission.
A public library has a clear impact on a community. Some quality of life indexes (Best Places to Live, Best Places to Raise Your Children, and Best Places to Retire, e.g.) use a “books per capita” statistic when profiling communities, so libraries are considered as part of the index that describes quality of life. Just as people want to live in towns with great schools, they also want great libraries.
The use of the library to support education is another economic benefit. Patrons use library services and programs for everything from introducing their children to the joy of reading to home schooling children. Patrons also see the use of the computers available at public libraries as an economic benefit. Computers are being used by patrons for e-mail purposes, to gather information about a potential consumer purchase, and to gain or increase existing computer skills. The availability and use of computers at libraries will continue to grow in importance to patrons and thereby provide an increasing economic benefit to them. |