The Value of Online Resources to North Carolina Public Library

Patrons

Emily GuhdeNCPLDA Conference

March 29, 2012

Background

Background

Background

Background

Background

25x$12=$300

Background

25x$12=$300

• Over-estimating the value

• Worth the time and effort to get the books from the library

• Not worth $300

Background

How do we estimate the value of a public good?

BackgroundWillingness to

Pay• Estimates the value of a public good

• Asks people to say how much they would be willing to pay for something

• Examples from environmental economics, public administration, and libraries

Research Questions 1. How much money are library

patrons willing to pay to use a library-provided eBook, eAudio book, or online video?

2. What factors are related to library patron willingness to pay for these resources?

Methodology• Designed and distributed online

survey to patrons using online library resources

Non-users included in WTP analysis

No opinion because we don’t use these. $0 $.10 $.25 $.50 $1.00 $2.00 $5.00 >$5.00

Methodology

• Asked patrons to select a willingness to pay response for using a library eBook, eAudio book and online video

Excluded from WTP analysisAsked a follow-up question

Methodology

• Asked patrons to provide information about themselves

Library characteristi

cs

Personal and family

characteristics

Purpose

Satisfaction

Usage

Importance of library services

Willingness to Pay

Findings• Open Oct. 31-Nov. 15, 2011• 471 valid responses

Findings

In-Person Library Visits (N=455)

Findings

Use of Library eBooks (N=412)

Findings

Use of Library eAudio Books (N=395)

Findings

Use of Library Online Videos (N=392)

FindingsHas Used a Paid Service for eBooks (N=401)

FindingsHas Used a Paid Service for eAudio Books (N=385)

FindingsHas Used a Paid Service for Online Videos (N=401)

FindingsGeneral Importance of Library Services to Family (N=398)

FindingsGeneral Importance of Library Services to Community (N=378)

Findings

Education (N=388)

Findings

Ethnicity (N=374)

Findings

Gender (N=384)

Findings

Age of Respondent (N=379)

FindingsNumber of Additional Family Members

(N=376)

Findings

Family Income (N=288)

Findings

Respondents by Library Type (N=471)

FindingsAccess to OverDrive eBooks Through Library (N=471)

FindingsAccess to OverDrive eAudio Books Through Library (N=471)

FindingsAccess to OverDrive Online Videos Through Library (N=471)

Findings

Findings

Willing to pay nothing

Willing to pay something

Findings

Usage

Purpose

Personal and family

characteristics

Satisfaction

Importance of library services

Library characteristi

cs

Willingness to Pay

Findings

Usage

Personal and family

characteristics

Satisfaction

Importance of library services

Library characteristi

cs

Willingness to Pay

Purpose

Findings

Usage

Purpose

Library characteristi

cs

Willingness to Pay

Findings

Usage

Purpose

Library characteristi

cs

Library patrons who paid for an eBook within the past 12 months were more likely to be willing to pay.

Library patrons who used online videos to meet their needs as educators were less likely to be willing to pay.

Library patrons were less likely to be willing to pay if they came from libraries that . . .

•Provide access to OverDrive online resources•Spend more than $20 per capita•Have a service population over 100,000

Findings

Usage

Purpose

Library characteristi

cs

Library patrons who paid for an eBook within the past 12 months were more likely to be willing to pay.

Library patrons who used online videos to meet their needs as educators were less likely to be willing to pay.

Library patrons were less likely to be willing to pay if they came from libraries that . . .

•Provide access to OverDrive online resources•Spend more than $20 per capita•Have a service population over 100,000

Get more online resources to the patrons who value them the most

Recommendations

Use value to inform collection development decisions

Recommendations

Recommendations

≠ WTP

Questions

www.nclive.org/value