Report explores support for libraries
The Dublin, Ohio-based Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) has released a report on support for library funding across the nation. “From Awareness to Funding: A study of library support in America,” funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, also evaluates the potential of a large-scale marketing and advocacy campaign to increase library funding.
Among other things, the report shows that library funding support is only slightly related to library visitation, perception of libraries plays an important role in determining support for their funding, and voters are more likely to support tax increases to fund libraries if they see the facilities as “transformational” instead of “informational.”
The entire report is available at http://www.oclc.org/reports/funding/.