THE TPL ECONOMIC

IMPACT STUDYInsights from Qualitative and Quantitative

Impact Measurements

Presented by

Kimberly Silk, MLS - Data Librarian, Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Co-Author, “So Much More: The Economic Impact of Toronto Public Library on the City of Toronto”

Agenda1. Why the Study was Necessary

2. Key Findings & Messages

a. Economic Impact of TPL

b. Value of Library Membership

c. Value of an Open Hour

3. Why These Findings Matter

4. What We Learned

Message 1: The Economic Impact of

TPL

Message 2: The Value of TPL

Membership

Message 3: The Value of an Open

Hour

Why These Findings Matter

• At the City Council meeting, January 15-17, 2013, Council passed a motion to request that the Chief Librarian prepare a cost-benefit analysis of the Open Hours Policy and the economic impact of Library services and provide a report to the City Manager for review and report prior to the 2014 budget process.

• The 3 key findings addressed the information request from Toronto City Council.

• These findings provided the information councillors needed to make an informed vote re: TPL proposed budget.

• Result: TPL’s 2014 budget request for a 1.4% increase over the 2013 budget approved, including funding for for the first year operating costs of two new branches, Fort York and Scarborough Civic Centre. It also includes funding for increased open hours at seven district libraries and the Toronto Reference Library, standardizing hours for all research and reference libraries and district branches to 69 hours per week, including Sundays. (Source: TPL news release)

What We Learned• Collecting lots of data doesn’t mean you’re

collecting the useful data.

• Data collection must be directly linked to the message / proof you need to deliver to stakeholders.

• A data snapshot isn’t enough – data collection strategy & analysis must be an ongoing process, to provide ongoing evidence of economic value.

Thank You for Listening

Presented by

Kimberly Silk, MLS - Data Librarian, Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Co-Author, “So Much More: The Economic Impact of Toronto Public Library on the City of Toronto”

Kimberly.Silk@rotman.utoronto.ca