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

About the Toronto Public Library

• TPL is one of the world’s busiest library systems with over 18 million visits to 98 branches in 2013; 2 new branches will open in the next 18 months.

• 72% of Toronto citizens use the TPL throughout the year, and over 1.3 million people are registered library card holders

• In January 2013, City of Toronto Council asked the City Librarian to commission a study to determine the economic impact of Toronto Public Library to the City of Toronto, and to specifically analyze the open hours policy.

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, completed December 2013.

Funding of Study

Estate of Norman G. Hinton

Step 1: Environmental Scan

Step 2: Methodology and Message

• Valuation of library services

• Valuation of direct spending

• Transparent methodology

• Conservative estimates

• Clear message

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

Total direct benefits reach $502 per member

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

Intangible benefits deliver value

Opportunities for residents to

✓improve literacy skills,

✓enhance educational and

✓employment opportunities,

✓and improve quality of life

for themselves and their families

Step 3: Communicating the Results

• More, deeper studies are needed – how to connect outputs to outcomes?

• Value of collaborations and partnerships

• Sharing and communicating the study results

• Importance of library research

• More, deeper studies are needed – how to connect outputs to outcomes?

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

What We Learned

Thank you

The study can be found here:

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/content/about-the-library/pdfs/board/meetings/2013/dec09/10_1.pdf

For more information on the study contact:

Kimberly Silk, Data Librarian

Martin Prosperity Institute, University of Toronto kimberly.silk@martinprosperity.org

@kimberlysilk

Elizabeth Glass, Manager, Planning & Development, Planning, Policy and E-Service Delivery

Toronto Public Library eglass@torontopubliclibrary.ca