"Who Needs Libraries" panel at BookNet Canada's Tech Forum - March 6, 2014. Mohammed Hosseini-Ara (moderator), Catherine Biss, Andrew Martin, Katherine Palmer, Kim Silk

1. Who
Needs
Libraries
? Tech Forum 2014
03.06.14

2. Dispelling
the
myths…

6. Symbiotic Relationship
“…Public libraries are an integral part of
the fragile ecosystem of reading in
America. Without libraries to encourage
new readers, foster book groups and
promote communities of reading,
publishers will find fewer readers for their
biggest titles, and readers will have more
difficulty discovering works not on the
bestseller lists…”
2013 Forbes Article – Why Libraries Matter…

7. ?WHAT DID
GATES DO

9. Studies show…
• The influence of the library often crept into to responses on other
questions explored through this study. When asked why consumers
purchased a certain book, there was a notable amount of commentary
stating that years ago they had read the book in the library, in particular
with regard to children’s book purchases.
• When asked about what library users do when a book is not available in
the library, 22.5% of respondents said they would go purchase the book.
• In the case where respondents are faced with extensive reserve or
holds lists and will potentially not be able to get the book for a long
period of time, 18% of respondents said they would purchase the book.
• Of the “Other” responses, many people added that they previously
borrowed a copy from the library that motivated the purchase of the
book.

10. Where did you hear
about it?

11. No
Outside
Books
Allowed
Where do you typically read books you
have purchased for yourself?

12.
So
Much
More:
The
Economic
Impact
of
the
Toronto
Public
Library
on
the
City
of
Toronto

13. Public Sector Context
2
2

14. Toronto Context
3
3

15. Funding of Study
4
4
Estate
of
Norman
G.
Hinton

16. 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.
5
5

17. So Much More
• Valuation of library
services
• Valuation of direct
spending
• Conservative estimates
6
6

18. Toronto Public Library creates
over $1 billion in total economic impact
7

19. Total direct benefits reach $502 per member
8

20. The average open hour at a branch generates
$2,515 in direct benefits
9

21. Toronto Public Library delivers $5.63 of
economic impact for every $1 spent
10

22. Return on Investment
ROI
is
463%
midpoint
of
a
range
very
conservaIvely
esImated
to
be
244%
and
is
comfortably
shown
to
reach
681%.
11

23. Intangible benefits deliver value
Opportunities for residents to
ü improve literacy skills,
ü enhance educational and
ü employment opportunities,
ü and improve quality of life
for themselves and their families
12

24. Neighbourhood Branches Provide
Communities Intangible Benefits
13
“Ci=es
that
promote
diversity
and
tolerance
also
tend
to
become
places
that
are
open
to
new
ideas
and
different
perspec=ves,
promo=ng
crea=vity.
This
in
turn
builds
ci=es
that
are
aLrac=ve
to
individuals
and
businesses
involved
in
the
crea=on
of
new
ideas,
products
and
services.”
The
Importance
of
Diversity
to
the
Economic
and
Social
Prosperity
of
Toronto,
MPI,
2010
13

25. • New metrics and studies
• Value of collaborations and partnerships
• Sharing and communicating the study results
• Importance of library research
14
Next steps

26. Thank you
The
study
can
be
found
here:
hKp://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/content/about-­‐the-­‐library/pdfs/board/
meeIngs/2013/dec09/10_1.pdf
For
more
informaIon
on
the
study
contact:
So Much More:
The Economic Imof Toronto
Toronto
c Library on the City Kim
Silk,
Data
Librarian
MarIn
Prosperity
InsItute,
University
of
Toronto
kimberley.silk@marInprosperity.org
Katherine
Palmer,
Director
Planning,
Policy
and
E-­‐Service
Delivery
Toronto
Public
Library
kpalmer@torontopubliclibrary.ca
15

27. MAKING
GOOD
ON
THE
PROMISE:
CENTRE
FOR
EQUITABLE
LIBRARY
ACCESS

28. CANADIAN
URBAN
LIBRARIES
COUNCIL
(CULC)
§ Public
libraries
that
serve
100,000+
populaDons
§ Mission:
To
work
collaboraDvely
to
build
vibrant
urban
communiDes
by
strengthening
the
capacity
of
Canada’s
urban
libraries
to:
§ Transfer
knowledge
and
create,
analyze,
disseminate
and
share
informaDon
§ AnDcipate
and
respond
to
the
changing
needs
of
their
communiDes.
§ Measure
their
success
through
targeted
research
and
ongoing
metrics.

29. 3.4
million
(10%)
of
Canadians
have
some
form
of
print
disability
7
%
of
interna=onally
published
material
available
in
formats
for
people
with
print
disabili=es
5%
of
Canadian
published
material
available
in
formats
for
people
with
print
disabili=es
PRINT
DISABLED
ENVIRONMENT

30. 1898:
Postage-­‐
free
mailing
for
people
who
are
blind.
1974-­‐2012
Series
of
Task
Forces
created
a
number
of
reports:
Fulfilling
the
promise
(NaDonal
Library
+CNIB)
Opening
the
Book:
a
strategy
for
a
na=onal
network
for
equitable
library
service
for
Canadians
with
print
disabili=es.
(Canadian
Library
AssociaDon
(CLA)
IniDaDve
for
Equitable
Library
Access
(IELA)
+
Library
&
Archives
Canada)
(LAC)
Reading
re-­‐imagined:
a
na=onal
digital
hub
(CNIB)
HISTORY
OF
SERVICES
FOR
THE
PRINT
DISABLED

31. § Equitable
access
to
published
materials
for
Canadians
with
print
disabiliDes
should
happen
through
public
libraries;
§ While
informed
by
Charter
rights,
from
a
public
library
operaDons
perspecDve,
the
access
and
format
needs
of
persons
with
print
disabiliDes
are
collecDon
development
and
public
service
issues.
PRINCIPLES
INFORMING
STAKEHOLDER
DISCUSSIONS

32. PRINCIPLES
INFORMING
DISCUSSIONS
cont’d
§ RecogniDon
that
libraries
must
contribute
insDtuDonally
and
financially
to
the
building
of
their
own
and/or
a
collecDvely
managed
accessible
format
collecDon.
§ Any
soluDon
should
leverage
exisDng
producDon,
access,
distribuDon,
and
technology
infrastructure
investments;
neither
party
is
interested
in
spending
money
on
creaDng
new
duplicate
or
parallel
systems.

33. PRINCIPLES
INFORMING
DISCUSSIONS
cont’d
• Both
public
libraries
and
the
CNIB
have
assets
and
contribuDons
to
bring
to
the
table.
• The
services
of
the
new
organizaDon
need
to
be
available
to
all
public
libraries
(small,
rural,
First
NaDons)
with
no
financial
barriers
to
parDcipaDon.

34. PRINCIPLES
INFORMING
DISCUSSIONS
cont’d
• Service
implementaDon
must
happen
ASAP.
The
print
disabled
community
has
waited
long
enough
for
services
in
their
local
public
libraries.
• The
new
organizaDon
must
serve
CNIB
library
clients
at
least
as
well
as
they
are
currently
served.

35. Introducing

36. VISION
Equitable
public
library
services
for
Canadians
with
print
disabiliDes.
MISSION
To
support
public
libraries
in
the
provision
of
accessible
collecDons
for
Canadians
with
print
disabiliDes
and
to
champion
the
fundamental
right
of
Canadians
with
print
disabiliDes
to
access
media
and
reading
materials
in
the
format
of
their
choice.

37. What
will
CELA
do?
Support
the
provision
of
public
library
services
for
the
print
disabled
by:
• Acquiring,
producing
and
distribuDng
published
works
in
alternaDve
formats
to
Canadian
Public
Libraries.
• Providing
public
libraries
with
advice,
training,
and
informaDon
to
support
customer
access
to
and
use
of
these
collecDons.

38.
COLLECTION
SERVICE
OPTIONS
§ Format
choice
(books):
digital
narrated
audio;
digital
text-­‐to-­‐speech
(e-­‐text);
e-­‐braille
and
printed
braille
§ Delivery
opDons:
Direct
download
to
computer,
handheld
devices
and
DAISY
player;
CD
and
braille
mail
to
home
or
library
§ Deposit
collecDons
for
libraries
§ Minimize
local
producDon
and
handling
so
staff
can
focus
on
patron
support
and
relaDonships

39. What
is
CNIB’s
relaJonship
to
CELA?
§ Contracted
producDon,
delivery
&
some
operaDonal
services
for
CELA.
§ ConDnued
leadership
through
internaDonal
organizaDons
for
increased
access
to
alternaDve
format
materials.
§ TransiDoning
exisDng
CNIB
members
and
referring
new
members
to
their
local
public
library.
§ SupporDng
advocacy
efforts
&
funding
requests
to
government
for
(sustained)
funding
for
CELA
§ ContribuDng
financially
to
the
new
organizaDon
through
on-­‐going
private-­‐sector
fundraising.

40. What’s
next…..
• Secure
funding
from
governments.
• ConDnue
to
finalize
contractual
agreements
with
CNIB
(phased).
• Develop
parameters
for
advisory
groups.
• Launch
website,
including
CELA
catalogue
interface
for
libraries.
• Formal
launch
of
CELA
April
1,
2014.

41. CURRENT
LEADERSHIP
The
current
CELA
Steering
Commicee:
Peter
Bailey,
Library
Director,
St.
Albert
Public
Library
Catherine
Biss,
Chief
Librarian
Markham
Public
Library;
Chair,
Canadian
Urban
Libraries
Council
Vickery
Bowles,
Director,
CollecDons
Management
&
City-­‐Wide
Services,
Toronto
Public
Library
Danielle
Chagnon,
Director
of
CollecDon
Development,
Bibliothèque
et
Archives
naDonales
du
Québec
Jefferson
Gilbert,
ExecuDve
Director,
Canadian
Urban
Libraries
Council
Teresa
Johnson,
Research
&
Planning
Librarian,
New
Brunswick
Public
Library
Service
Ralph
Manning,
Ex-­‐Officio,
Canadian
Library
AssociaDon
Margaret
McGrory,
VP,
ExecuDve
Director,
CNIB
Library
Sandra
Singh,
Chief
Librarian,
Vancouver
Public
Library
In
addi=on,
we
have
a
Library
Opera=ons
Advisory
Group
and
a
Consumer
Advisory
Group
ready
to
advise.

42. FOR
MORE
INFORMATION
§ Andrew
MarDn,
Senior
Project
Lead,
andrew.marDn@celalibrary.ca
§ Sandra
Singh,
sandra.singh@vpl.ca
§ Jefferson
Gilbert,
jgilbert@culc.ca
§ Or
any
member
of
our
Steering
Commicee
Keep
an
eye
on:
hcp://www.celalibrary.ca
/
hcp://www.bibliocela.ca
[under
construcDon]