What’s the value of your library?
According to research by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, every $1 of funding to Georgia’s public libraries results in $3.75 in services and economic impact.
Read the full study
“Libraries provide tremendous value in return from the investment of public dollars and private donations,” said Julie Walker, vice chancellor for Libraries & Archives and State Librarian. “This study validates what we already know: libraries are foundational to our communities, providing value to Georgians that far outweighs their costs.”
For many patrons, the value of their library can’t be quantified.
Lee, 78, is an avid reader who visited her hometown library in Union County every week and participated in book clubs there. When she had a stroke last year, she lost the ability to read.
“I can recognize short words at a glance, but it’s hard to decode most bigger words,” she said. “At first, my husband tried to pick out audiobooks for me, but he’d always choose cowboy ones instead of topics I like!”
He called the library for help. Now, every week, Lee can be found at the Union County Library with Linda, a staff member who helps Lee navigate the Libby app and identify audiobooks she may enjoy listening to next.
“I can enjoy reading again,” said Lee. “They always have great book recommendations that fit my interests.” She keeps a notebook listing each book’s author, title, and character names and as she listens via Libby, she refers to the list to help improve her memory.
“It touched my heart that she couldn’t read anymore because of the stroke,” said Linda. “I’m so glad she trusts us to help her find books.”
This small library in Blairsville, population 850, takes pride in enriching the community through excellent service and programming. The library serves a county of around 27,000 residents. On any given day, a wide variety of people walk through the door.
Bennett came in with his parents on his sixth birthday. “I probably read 15 books a day,” he said, as he pulled a stack of books from the holds shelf. Library staff brought him a bag filled with goodies for his birthday, and he sat down on the floor to pull everything out – board books, a bookmark, and a small stuffed animal. He helped his parents pick out books for him to request through the statewide PINES collection, especially ones featuring animals.
“We’ve definitely maxed out the library card with 50 books before,” said his mom, as they checked out a large stack of books at the self-serve machine. Before leaving, Bennett colored a paper feather and gave it to a librarian to be added to the colorful collection on the library wall.
Everyone who walks in the door receives the same friendly service.
Taylor is the owner of the Messy Baking Company and a professor at nearby North Georgia Technical College. She enjoys going through the library’s cookbooks for inspiration and ordering books through the statewide PINES network.
“I grew up in nearby Blue Ridge, and I’ve been coming to the library since I was a child,” said Taylor.
She will often find a table by a window, spread out several cookbooks, and work. Sometimes she prints her cake orders using the library copy machine. Other times, she grabs one of the library’s tablets and practices American Sign Language through Mango Languages, provided free with a library card.
Even the area’s many out-of-town visitors are able to utilize the library because it is part of the PINES network. Over the recent fall break, an Atlanta-area middle schooler forgot his book for a report at home and was able to check one out from the library. He can return it to any of the more than 300 participating PINES libraries.
“Whatever our community members need, they can find it at the library,” said Branch Manager Marlene Cannon. “They know our staff are happy to assist them. Just yesterday, we helped someone obtain their airline tickets; they didn’t have an email and weren’t sure how to get them. You never know what someone may need.”
Every $1 of funding to Georgia’s public libraries results in $3.75 in services and economic impact.
Programs are also popular, with adult gatherings on topics like scam prevention or computer literacy bringing in 50-100 people and youth activities topping 300.
“Public-use computers and Wi-Fi are other essential services here,” said Cannon. “Many people don’t have reliable internet in our mountain community.”
On a typical day, the Union County Library has around 250 people who visit for books, programming, or assistance. “Our community loves the library,” said Cannon. “And we love serving the community.”
In communities large or small, libraries offer a welcoming space for everyone
200 miles south of Blairsville is the Columbus Public Library, which serves Georgia’s second largest city as part of the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries system. Even though the population of Columbus is over 200,000, customers still enjoy the same level of personalized service.
“We hire the smile and teach the skills,” said Tiffany Wilson, community engagement coordinator with the system. “We are a large, busy library, and we prioritize building relationships so every visitor feels recognized.”
Staff go out of their way to ensure each customer feels welcome and supported – whether helping a parent find the perfect children’s book, assisting a teen with a research project, or guiding someone through online resources, job searches, or local history research. The library typically welcomes more than 700 customers per day and hosts about 175 programs per month.
Felecia Malave brings her children multiple times a week. Her son loves exploring the large collection of early reader books in the Aflac Children’s Department, which has a large Maurice Sendak illustration from “Where The Wild Things Are” across one wall, kid-sized tables and chairs for coloring or reading, and a play area.
“Our library is more than just books, it’s a community.”
The library is centrally located, expansive – three floors and over 100,000 square feet – and typically open even when schools are closed. That gives families, students, and lifelong learners a place to explore seven days a week.
“Our library is more than just books, it’s a community,” said Dr. Asantè Hilts. “It’s a place to play, learn, grow, and network, where no person is left out. As a child, my library was the after-school safe place, and our librarians knew my name. And now, my library provides that same support to me as an adult learner and parent, and to my children. The investments that libraries make into our lives across generations are the reason I chose to serve and give back as a board member.”
When staff open the doors each morning, there are usually a handful of people already waiting to go inside. The library is busy throughout the day with customers exploring the dedicated areas for children, teens, adults, and genealogy and local history.
Free meeting rooms, public computer access, curbside pickup, and a full suite of digital services make it easy for everyone to use the library in the way that works best for them.
The library also partners with more than 100 community organizations, enabling them to bring programs and services directly to the people who need them most.
Large or small, the value of Georgia’s 408 public libraries is clear. Some values can be quantified, like more than 45 million annual library visits, nearly 11 million Wi-Fi and computer sessions, and 4.9 million Georgians with a library card in 2024. But much of a library’s value also comes from the friendly and helpful services they provide to everyone who steps in the door.
“From helping children become strong readers, supporting students’ academic success, and connecting job seekers to new opportunities, our libraries, staffed by talented, dedicated individuals, are the heart of their communities,” said Walker. “We encourage everyone to support a strong Georgia by supporting libraries.”
