Return-on-Investment in Public Libraries: A Study from the State of Kentucky

This study presents findings from a study of the return-on-investment (ROI) that public libraries create in the state of Kentucky. This involves translating the impact of public library operational and capital expenditures, circulation, and services into dollar values. The core findings are that Kentucky’s public libraries provided almost half a billion dollars in net value in fiscal year 2024, which translates to $3.01 in value for every dollar invested. The authors discuss issues that provide a useful understanding of public library value beyond Kentucky, including why rural public libraries typically have a lower ROI than those in more populated areas and the fact that operational costs for public libraries in all areas are rising.