The Read With Us Lounge: How Does Library Funding Work, Anyway?

One of the things I see all the time on social media goes something like this:

“I always check out a few extra books because I know it helps the library get funding.”

I love the intention behind that comment. It tells me people want to support their library. But it’s based on a big misconception about the public library. The reality is that we don’t receive funding based on how many books we check out or how many people have library cards.

I think part of the reason people assume this is because librarians pay a lot of attention to statistics. We count circulation numbers, program attendance, visitor counts, computer use, Wi-Fi sessions, and more. And we do that because those numbers tell us how the community is using the library. And then we use those numbers when budget season rules around and town officials are making decisions about how to spend taxpayer dollars. If thousands of people are borrowing books, attending programs, downloading eBooks, using museum passes, applying for passports, bringing their children to storytime, or using our public computers, we can demonstrate that the library is an important community resource.

Those numbers don’t generate funding but they sure as hell justify it. Statistics help us demonstrate our value even if they don’t create our funding. Every time you use your library, you’re helping demonstrate that these services matter to your community. You’re showing that the investment taxpayers make in the library is worthwhile. And that’s why it matters that you borrow books and go to programs and hype up the public library.

Not because each use earns the library money. But rather because each use helps tell the story of why libraries matter.

And that’s the most important message of all.