This is the presentation used to describe the findings from the study "Economic value and impact of public libraries in Latvia" at the international conference "Changes in Libraries and in Society. Results of Impact Assessment" in Vilnius, June 7, 2012.

2. Economic value
of public libraries in Latvia
Kristine Paberza
Impact Assessment Manager
Public library development project «Father’s Third Son»
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3. Public libraries in Latvia
18 min
13 min
24 min
3 16 min

4. Public library users
% of all inhabitants
Autumn 2007 Spring 2009
Autumn 2009 Spring 2011
61%
44%48%
38% 38%40% 38%
34%
26%
17%
9%
Active users Passive users Non-users
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5. Library internet users
% of all inhabitants
Internet users Library internet users
73%
2011
30%
69%
2009
28%
61%
2007
13%
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6. Frequency of library internet use
% of all library internet users
Every or almost every day Several times a week
At least once a week At least once a month
More rarely
2011 15% 30% 38% 11% 7%
2007 7% 13% 28% 30% 21%
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7. Personal benefits
% of all library internet users
To find info for hobbies 79%
To find community info 69%
To find health info 65%
To find info for studies 62%
To save or earn money 59%
To help children in school 54%
To engage in social life 47%
To do shopping 47%
To improve existing job 43%
To find a job 38%
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8. Local community benefits
% of all library internet users
2007 2009 2011
80% 81%81% 82%
76%
72%74% 74% 71%
68%
64%
58% 56%
53%
46%
Access to Possibility to Better social Access to Access to
labour market save time and communication information private e-
money services
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9. Why do we need to quantify economic
value?
Annual budget, LVL Number of visits
21 324 319
16 784 003
13 801 600
9 326 347 9 943 745
7 919 156
2008 2009 2010
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10. Cost – benefit calculations
Economic Data source General approach to calculation
impact
Direct Survey / Value of service assigned by users
benefits national multiplied by the utilisation of this
statistics service
Indirect Survey / Qualitative research for non-
benefits findings monetary indirect benefits.
from similar Use of ratios of indirect monetary
studies benefits from other studies
Direct costs Survey / Expenses on salaries multiplied by
national time proportion librarians spend on
statistics delivering particular service plus
overheads 10

11. Data sources and samples
1. Public libraries’ national statistics
2. Survey data
Target audience Sample
Latvian inhabitants (including 3004
library users and non-users)
Public library managers 596
Public library librarians 1246
Municipality leaders 91
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12. Valuation of public library
services
Congingent valuation method:
 Willingness to pay (WTP)
 Willingness to accept (WTA)
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13. Services analysed in the study
 Public library services in general
 Lending
 Reading room
 Use of PCs and Internet
 ICT training classes
 ICT consultations
 Services for disabled users
 Public events
 Exhibitions
 Reference services
 Printing, scanning, copying 13

14. Direct net annual benefit of
public library system in Latvia
6 470 030 LVL (cost-benefit ratio = 1,37)
31 715 833 LTL / 11 410 988 USD
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15. Annual indirect benefits to
the economy
9 890 423 LVL (cost-benefit ratio = 1,96)
48 482 466 LTL / 17 443 427 USD
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16. Alternative net annual benefits
WTP WTP WTA
(including 0) (excluding 0) (including 0)
6 470 030 49 783 136 155 104 683
Alternative cost-benefit ratios
WTP WTP WTA
(including 0) (excluding 0) (including 0)
1,37 3,88 9,96
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17. Cost-benefit ratios of services
WTP (including 0)
Exhibitions 5,77
Use of PCs and Internet 3,04
Reading room 1,45
Lending 1,42
Photocopying 0,88
Printing 0,79 1,37
ICT training classes 0,49
Public events 0,42
ICT consultations 0,39
Reference services 0,33
Scanning 0,27
Services for disabled users 0,12
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18. Change in the net benefits
WTP (including 0)
9 650 067
7 266 133
2 493 890
2008 2009 2010
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19. What’s next?
Internet connectivity subsidy
900 000 LVL 2 595 250 LVL
Summer reading program
13 800 LVL 1 709 657 LVL
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20. Thanks
for
attention!