Exploring the relationships between constructs of library value and local government public library funding: A study of New Jersey public libraries

As a result of the recent economic downturn many public libraries have had to lay off staff and make reductions in the programs and services provided to their communities. At the same time, the demand for access to electronic resources and other services means that more and more people are making use of their public libraries. Despite a long history of library evaluation and advocacy, many libraries are chronically underfunded, and we still do not know what library administrators can do to effectively muster increased funding for public libraries.;This study investigated three propositions about the relationships between constructs of public library value and levels of public library municipal funding. The study investigated these propositions by examining the library value constructs held by public library directors and by mayors in New Jersey communities that provide tax support for public libraries. The goal of the study was to identify the important value constructs for each group, and to discover if there are relationships between specific value constructs and levels of library funding.;The researcher used surveys to gather data, and usable responses were received from 88 public library directors and 52 mayors. The surveys asked respondents to use a Likert scale to rate their level of agreement with a series of statements about library value and the budget process. The resultant responses were analyzed using correlation analysis and logistic regression. The respondents also provided answers to four open ended questions identifying most and least effective types of budget information.;The study findings suggest that while value-funding link is not direct, there is support for the claim that the public library is still a valued community institution. Library advocacy efforts and the focus on library evaluation have been effective in sustaining a shared culture around libraries. However, these activities are not the keys to the library's expansion or growth; these activities help libraries survive, but they will not help them thrive. Securing additional funding does not appear to be about library goodness, but may instead be about the weight of the library in a particular local government resource allocation decision matrix.