A current look at Georgia's public libraries and GPLS

A CURRENT LOOK AT GEORGIA`S PUBLIC LIBRARIES and GPLS

A Unit of the University System of Georgia A Unit of the University System of Georgia

FEBRUARY 2010
2/1/2010

Topical Index
Topic
Return on Investment and Statutory Authority State and Local Funding Library Cards, Circulation, Public Use Computers and Collection Materials Per Capita Library Expenditures Current Description of Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) Value of GPLS Services Recent Accomplishments and Conclusion
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Return on investment: The value of public libraries' contributions to the people of Georgia
I 47,811,748 books and other materials were borrowed from Georgia's public libraries in FY 2009. The average book costs $25.00. This saved the people of Georgia a total of $1,195,293,700.
I 1,485,192 children attended programs at Georgia's public libraries in FY 2009. The average cost of a movie theater ticket for a child is $6.50. This was equivalent to Georgia parents spending $9,653,748.
I 15,018,105 people used public-access Internet computers at Georgia's public libraries in FY 2009. The average cost of a computer workstation rental with Internet access at FedEx Kinko's and similar business centers is $.40 per minute -- $8.00 for each 20-minute session. This saved the people of Georgia a total of $120,144,840.
The value of just these three public library services was $1,325,092,288 ($140.27 per capita) in FY 2009. Georgia public libraries spent only $201,453,612 ($21.33 per capita) in FY 2009.
Return on investment = $6.58 to $1.00
I Public libraries also provided employment for 3,105 Georgia citizens in FY 2009! I Although circulation numbers increased by more than 10% from FY 2008, cost decreased by 1%!

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A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Georgia's 61 Public Library Systems
By statutory authority, Georgia Public Library Service gives aid, counsel and advice to all libraries in Georgia and works in a limited supervisory capacity with the 61 public library systems. As per OCGA 20-5-40, public library systems are local units of administration that have been created through participating agreements among city and county governments.
Public library systems in Georgia are either single-county or multiple-county, based on the individual participating agreements. There are currently 33 multiple-county (regional) public library systems and 28 single-county public library systems. OCGA 20-5-41 places the control of single-county library systems with the county board of trustees and places the control of multiple-county library systems with the regional board of trustees.
While GPLS strongly supports efficiency and economy in the operation of public library systems, it realizes that local preferences, history and political realities drive the decisions of how public libraries are configured and aligned. It is the role of GPLS to advocate for strong, fiscally sound and viable public libraries. It is essential that the agency gives equal consideration to all public libraries -- regardless of size, location or configuration.
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State Funding for Georgia Public Libraries by Formula
I By state law, state funding is apportioned by formula to the library systems on the basis of population and geography.
I State funding is provided for professional salaries, library materials and operational support.
I Georgia currently ranks 9th in the nation in terms of state funding per capita for public libraries, at $2.52.
I Georgia is the only state that provides grants that are specifically designated for the salaries of professional librarians, thus ensuring that each system is administered and staffed with graduate librarians.
I Even with the significant funding provided by the state, Georgia currently ranks 44th in the nation in terms of total per capita funding of public libraries.

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A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Sources: Annual Reports of Georgia's public library systems for Fiscal Years 2007 2009 and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Survey for Fiscal Year 2009
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State Per Capita Funding for Georgia Public Libraries FY 2007-09

A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Sources: Annual Reports of Georgia's public library systems for Fiscal Years 2007 2009 and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Survey for Fiscal Year 2007
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State Funding by Category for Georgia Public Libraries FY 2007-09

A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Sources: Annual Reports of Georgia's public library systems for Fiscal Years 2007 2009 and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Survey for Fiscal Year 2007
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Local Funding for Georgia Public Libraries
I Local funding (including one-time and capital funding) for Georgia's public libraries varied widely across the state in FY 2009, from $5.09 to $44.80 per capita.
I The majority of the public library systems in Georgia received local funding that was below the statewide average of $18.47. I All but three public library systems in Georgia (Atlanta-Fulton County, Chattahoochee Valley Regional and Forsyth County) received local funding that was below the national average of $31.68. I Ten public library systems received less local funding than state funding. I 17% of total funding for public libraries in Georgia came from the state. I 83% of funding for public libraries in Georgia came from local sources. I Georgia ranked 47th in the nation in local funding per capita for public libraries in FY 2009.

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A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Sources: Annual Reports of Georgia's public library systems for Fiscal Years 2007 2009 and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Survey for Fiscal Year 2007
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Local Funding Per Capita for Georgia Public Libraries FY 2007-09

A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Sources: Annual Reports of Georgia's public library systems for Fiscal Years 2007 2009 and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Survey for Fiscal Year 2007
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A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Sources: Annual Reports of Georgia's public library systems for Fiscal Years 2006 2009 2/1/2010 10

Ratios of State to Local Governmental Funding for Georgia Public Libraries --
FY 2009

A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Sources: Annual Reports of Georgia's public library systems for Fiscal Years 2007 2009

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Library Cards and Circulation in FY 2009
I Census 2000 reported a total of 3,006,369 Georgia households. In FY 2009, 4,158,485 individuals held public library cards. This ratio shows 1.38 registered public library patrons per Georgia household.
I Approximately 44% of all Georgians are currently registered public library patrons.
I Library systems that participate in Georgia Public Library Service's PINES automation and lending network had issued 2,191,286 PINES library cards as of the close of FY 2009 on June 30. (This increased to 2,326,808 as of Jan. 31, 2010.)
I More than half of all registered public library patrons in Georgia live in a county with a library system that participates in PINES.
I Circulation of library materials, 47.8 million items, was 5.06 per capita in FY 2009.
I Georgia ranked 45th among states in circulation per capita in FY 2009.

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Percentage of Population With Library Cards in FY 2009
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A Unit of the University System of Georgia

Sources: Annual Reports of Georgia's public library systems for Fiscal Years 2007 2009 and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Survey for Fiscal Year 2007
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Per Capita Circulation in Georgia Public Libraries FY 2007-09

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Sources: Annual Reports of Georgia's public library systems for Fiscal Years 2007 2009 and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Survey for Fiscal Year 2007
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