A statewide report puts a dollar figure on what library users already know: libraries are among the best investments a community can make.
Texas public libraries return $4.74 in community value for every $1 invested in them, according to a new statewide study released this month by the Texas Library Association (TLA).
The report, Beyond the Stacks: Economic and Community Value of Texas Public Libraries, found that public libraries delivered $3.8 billion in total economic benefits across the state in fiscal year 2024 and directly and indirectly supported 11,200 Texas jobs. The study was commissioned by TLA with support from the Mellon Foundation and conducted by JBK Economics Group.
Where the value comes from
Most of that impact comes from the services people use every day. Nearly $2.5 billion reflects the value of library resources themselves: books and e-books, programs, internet and Wi-Fi access, reference help, and research databases. Another $1.35 billion in economic activity came from library operating and capital spending, the salaries, construction, and purchasing that ripple through local economies.
The study also highlights libraries’ role as workforce and small-business hubs. Among Texas libraries surveyed:
- 82% help patrons with job applications
- 60% provide economic or demographic data
- 55% offer business-related databases
- 53% host business programs or workshops
“This study puts a dollar value on the opportunities libraries create every day,” said Shirley Robinson, TLA’s executive director. “Whether someone visits a library to apply for a job, access the internet, learn a new skill or simply find a new favorite book, those services create real value for Texans and their communities.”
What it means for Austin
At the Austin Public Library, that value shows up in an early-stage entrepreneur accessing resources through the library’s BizAid Business program or a local publisher gaining customers at the Greater Austin Book Fest.
Public funding keeps the doors open. Private support from The Library Foundation helps the library go further, funding programs, collections, and initiatives such as the Austin Youth Poet Laureate and the Teen Library Fellowship program that public budgets alone can’t cover.
When every dollar returns nearly five, supporting the library is one of the most effective ways to invest in Austin.
Read the full Beyond the Stacks study → | Support the Library Foundation →
