To the esteemed members of the Cache County Council:
The Cache Valley Library Association Executive Committee understands that the proposed defunding of the Cache County Library is a complex issue that has many implications, and we appreciate the time and effort that have been put into the budget recommendation. It is clear to us that Executive Daines has researched and thought about the issue at length, and CVLA also appreciates that Executive Daines is “in favor of public support for libraries,” as he wrote in his Library Recommendation document of October 15.
95% of Americans ages 16 and older agree that the materials and resources available at public libraries play an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed, and 94% say that having a public library improves the quality of life in a community.(1) Public libraries consistently rank as one of the most-trusted public institutions in the United States.(2) As Cache Valley library professionals, we recommend taking the following principles into consideration, no matter which outcome the Cache County Council ends up choosing:
Libraries are institutions that provide and protect deep-rooted American values:
Community
- In the age of artificial intelligence, there is an unprecedented need for both credible resources and human connection. Libraries provide both, and much more.
- Libraries are one of the few remaining public spaces that reflect community identity and defend the common good.
- Libraries offer a place for community groups to meet and collaborate, in casual and organized ways alike.
- We believe it should be easy for residents to access both physical and digital library services, no matter where they live.
- Free library service for all users is a democratic value which provides equal access to many benefits:
- Learning and discovery
- Author readings
- Story times and other youth programs
- Reader’s guides
- Book clubs and social gatherings
- STEM education
- Access to technology such as printers, WiFi, computers, and maker tech
- Unique materials (telescope, headphones, tools)
- Libraries provide a healthy, safe environment for users of all ages and backgrounds.
- Some government and community services are valuable enough that they should be funded by a broader base than those who use them (or use them most)—such as fire departments, schools, and public libraries.
- We recognize that the value of libraries is not necessarily obvious to all members of the public, so libraries are increasingly working to market their traditional and innovative services to potential users.
- Return-on-investment calculations vary, but they generally point to many times the amount invested; estimates place this figure at anywhere from $5 to $30 returned for each dollar spent on library services.(3)
“Libraries provide the kind of ongoing education that each man, woman, and child will need in order to remain a fully productive and fully participating citizen.”(4)
The Executive Committee of the Cache Valley Library Association
Sources:
(1) https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/12/11/libraries-in-communities/
(2) https://www.aamchealthjustice.org/news/polling/trust-trends
(3) https://www.lrs.org/documents/closer_look/roi.pdf
(4) https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PPP-1992-book1/html/PPP-1992-book1-doc-pg400.htm
