Who Needs Libraries? Tech Forum 2014

03.06.14

Dispelling the myths…

Symbiotic Relationship “…Public libraries are an integral part of the fragile ecosystem of reading in America. Without libraries to encourage new readers, foster book groups and promote communities of reading, publishers will find fewer readers for their biggest titles, and readers will have more difficulty discovering works not on the bestseller lists…”

2013 Forbes Article – Why Libraries Matter…

? WHAT DID GATES DO

Studies show… •  The influence of the library often crept into to responses on other

questions explored through this study. When asked why consumers purchased a certain book, there was a notable amount of commentary stating that years ago they had read the book in the library, in particular with regard to children’s book purchases.

•  When asked about what library users do when a book is not available in the library, 22.5% of respondents said they would go purchase the book.

•  In the case where respondents are faced with extensive reserve or

holds lists and will potentially not be able to get the book for a long period of time, 18% of respondents said they would purchase the book.

•  Of the “Other” responses, many people added that they previously borrowed a copy from the library that motivated the purchase of the book.

 

Where did you hear about it?

No Outside Books

Allowed

Where do you typically read books you have purchased for yourself?

       So  Much  More:  The  Economic  Impact  of  the  Toronto  Public  Library  on  the  City  of  Toronto              

Public Sector Context

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Toronto Context

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Funding of Study

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Estate  of  Norman  G.  Hinton  

About the Martin Prosperity Institute

•  Part of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto

•  Positioned at the intersection of academia, business and civil society

•  Anchored by three of the world’s top thinkers and writers:

–  Roger Martin, former Dean of Rotman School of Management; author, Playing to Win

–  Don Tapscott, Executive Director of the Global Solution Networks; author, Wikinomics

–  Richard Florida, author, The Rise of the Creative Class •  So Much More co-authored by Dr. Kevin Stolarick, Research Director

at MPI and Kimberly Silk, Data Librarian.

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So Much More

•  Valuation of library services

•  Valuation of direct spending

•  Conservative estimates

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Toronto Public Library creates over $1 billion in total economic impact

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Total direct benefits reach $502 per member

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The average open hour at a branch generates $2,515 in direct benefits

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Toronto Public Library delivers $5.63 of economic impact for every $1 spent

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Return on Investment

 

ROI  is  463%    

midpoint  of  a  range  very  conservaIvely  esImated  to  be  244%    

and  is  comfortably  shown  to  reach  681%.  

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Intangible benefits deliver value

Opportunities for residents to

ü improve literacy skills,

ü enhance educational and

ü employment opportunities,

ü and improve quality of life

for themselves and their families

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Neighbourhood Branches Provide Communities Intangible Benefits

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“Ci=es  that  promote  diversity  and  tolerance  also  tend  to  become  places  that  are  open  to  new  ideas  and  different  perspec=ves,  promo=ng  crea=vity.  This  in  turn  builds  ci=es  that  are  aLrac=ve  to  individuals  and  businesses  involved  in  the  crea=on  of  new  ideas,  products  and  services.”  

The  Importance  of  Diversity  to  the  Economic  and  Social  Prosperity  of  Toronto,  MPI,  2010  

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•  New metrics and studies •  Value of collaborations and partnerships •  Sharing and communicating the study results •  Importance of library research

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Next steps

Thank you

The  study  can  be  found  here:      

hKp://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/content/about-­‐the-­‐library/pdfs/board/meeIngs/2013/dec09/10_1.pdf    

 For  more  informaIon  on  the  study  contact:    

So Much More: The Economic Imof Toronto

Toronto

c Library on the City Kim  Silk,  Data  Librarian  MarIn  Prosperity  InsItute,  University  of  Toronto  

kimberley.silk@marInprosperity.org      

Katherine  Palmer,  Director    Planning,  Policy  and  E-­‐Service  Delivery  

Toronto  Public  Library  kpalmer@torontopubliclibrary.ca  

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MAKING  GOOD  ON  THE  PROMISE:    

CENTRE  FOR  EQUITABLE  LIBRARY  ACCESS    

CANADIAN  URBAN  LIBRARIES  COUNCIL  (CULC)  

§  Public  libraries  that  serve  100,000+  populaDons  §  Mission:    To  work  collaboraDvely  to  build  vibrant  

urban  communiDes  by  strengthening  the  capacity  of  Canada’s  urban  libraries  to:  §  Transfer  knowledge  and  create,  analyze,  disseminate    and  share  informaDon    

§  AnDcipate  and  respond  to  the  changing  needs  of  their  communiDes.  

§  Measure  their  success  through  targeted  research  and  ongoing  metrics.  

3.4  million  (10%)  of  Canadians  have  some  form  of  print  disability  

7  %  of  interna=onally  published  material  available  in  formats  for  people  with  print  disabili=es  

5%  of  Canadian  published  material  available  in  formats  for  people  with  print  disabili=es  

PRINT  DISABLED  ENVIRONMENT  

1898:  Postage-­‐  free  mailing  for  people  who  are  blind.  1974-­‐2012  Series  of  Task  Forces  created  a  number  of  reports:  

   

 Fulfilling  the  promise  (NaDonal  Library  +CNIB)      

 Opening  the  Book:    a  strategy  for  a  na=onal  network  for  equitable  library  service  for  Canadians  with  print  disabili=es.  (Canadian  Library  AssociaDon  (CLA)  IniDaDve  for  Equitable  Library  Access  (IELA)  +  Library  &  Archives  Canada)    (LAC)      

 Reading  re-­‐imagined:    a  na=onal  digital  hub    (CNIB)    

             

           

 

 

   

   

   

HISTORY  OF  SERVICES  FOR  THE  PRINT  DISABLED  

§ Equitable  access  to  published  materials  for  Canadians  with  print  disabiliDes  should  happen  through  public  libraries;  

§ While  informed  by  Charter  rights,  from  a  public  library  operaDons  perspecDve,  the  access  and  format  needs  of  persons  with  print  disabiliDes  are  collecDon  development  and  public  service  issues.          

PRINCIPLES  INFORMING  STAKEHOLDER  DISCUSSIONS    

PRINCIPLES  INFORMING  DISCUSSIONS    cont’d  

§  RecogniDon  that  libraries  must  contribute  insDtuDonally  and  financially  to  the  building  of  their  own  and/or  a  collecDvely  managed  accessible  format  collecDon.    

§  Any  soluDon  should  leverage  exisDng  producDon,  access,  distribuDon,  and  technology  infrastructure  investments;    neither  party  is  interested  in  spending  money  on  creaDng  new  duplicate  or  parallel  systems.  

PRINCIPLES  INFORMING  DISCUSSIONS    cont’d  

•  Both  public  libraries  and  the  CNIB  have  assets  and  contribuDons  to  bring  to  the  table.  

•  The  services  of  the  new  organizaDon  need  to  be  available  to  all  public  libraries  (small,  rural,  First  NaDons)  with  no  financial  barriers  to  parDcipaDon.  

PRINCIPLES  INFORMING  DISCUSSIONS    cont’d  

•  Service  implementaDon  must  happen  ASAP.    The  print  disabled  community  has  waited  long  enough  for  services  in  their  local  public  libraries.  

•  The  new  organizaDon  must  serve  CNIB  library  clients  at  least  as  well  as  they  are  currently  served.  

Introducing  

VISION  Equitable  public  library  services  for  Canadians  with  print  disabiliDes.    MISSION  To  support  public  libraries  in  the  provision  of  accessible  collecDons  for  Canadians  with  print  disabiliDes  and  to  champion  the  fundamental  right  of  Canadians  with  print  disabiliDes  to  access  media  and  reading  materials  in  the  format  of  their  choice.      

What  will  CELA  do?  Support  the  provision  of  public  library  services  for  the  print  disabled  by:      

•  Acquiring,  producing  and  distribuDng  published  works  in  alternaDve  formats  to  Canadian  Public  Libraries.  

•  Providing  public  libraries  with  advice,  training,  and  informaDon  to  support  customer  access  to  and  use  of  these  collecDons.  

 

COLLECTION  SERVICE  OPTIONS      § Format  choice  (books):  digital  narrated  audio;  

digital  text-­‐to-­‐speech  (e-­‐text);  e-­‐braille  and  printed  braille  

§ Delivery  opDons:  Direct  download  to  computer,  handheld  devices  and  DAISY  player;  CD  and  braille  mail  to  home  or  library  

§ Deposit  collecDons  for  libraries  § Minimize  local  producDon  and  handling  so  staff  can  focus  on  patron  support  and  relaDonships  

What  is  CNIB’s    relaJonship  to    CELA?    §  Contracted  producDon,  delivery  &  some  

operaDonal  services  for  CELA.  §  ConDnued  leadership  through  internaDonal  

organizaDons  for  increased  access  to  alternaDve  format  materials.  

§  TransiDoning  exisDng  CNIB  members  and  referring  new  members  to  their  local  public  library.  

§  SupporDng  advocacy  efforts  &  funding  requests  to  government  for  (sustained)  funding  for  CELA  

§  ContribuDng  financially  to  the  new  organizaDon  through  on-­‐going  private-­‐sector  fundraising.  

What’s  next…..  

•  Secure  funding  from  governments.  •  ConDnue  to  finalize  contractual  agreements  with  CNIB  (phased).  

•  Develop  parameters  for  advisory  groups.  •  Launch  website,  including  CELA  catalogue  interface  for  libraries.  

•  Formal  launch  of  CELA  April  1,  2014.  

CURRENT  LEADERSHIP    

The  current  CELA  Steering  Commicee:    

Peter  Bailey,  Library  Director,  St.  Albert  Public  Library  Catherine  Biss,  Chief  Librarian  Markham  Public  Library;  Chair,  Canadian  Urban  Libraries  Council  Vickery  Bowles,  Director,  CollecDons  Management  &  City-­‐Wide  Services,  Toronto  Public  Library  Danielle  Chagnon,  Director  of  CollecDon  Development,  Bibliothèque  et  Archives  naDonales  du  Québec  Jefferson  Gilbert,  ExecuDve  Director,  Canadian  Urban  Libraries  Council  Teresa  Johnson,  Research  &  Planning  Librarian,  New  Brunswick  Public  Library  Service  Ralph  Manning,  Ex-­‐Officio,  Canadian  Library  AssociaDon  Margaret  McGrory,  VP,  ExecuDve  Director,  CNIB  Library  Sandra  Singh,  Chief  Librarian,  Vancouver  Public  Library      In  addi=on,  we  have  a  Library  Opera=ons  Advisory  Group  and  a  Consumer  Advisory  Group  ready  to  advise.    

FOR  MORE  INFORMATION  §  Andrew  MarDn,  Senior  Project  Lead,  andrew.marDn@celalibrary.ca  

§  Sandra  Singh,  sandra.singh@vpl.ca  

§  Jefferson  Gilbert,  jgilbert@culc.ca  

§  Or  any  member  of  our  Steering  Commicee    

Keep  an  eye  on:  hcp://www.celalibrary.ca  /  hcp://www.bibliocela.ca                          [under  construcDon]