South Carolina Public Library Economic Impact Study - Illinois

CHARLESTON• Ability to find a wide range of materials in various formats without having topurchase items at my own expenses. For example, I am taking a beginningSpanish language class through my local community education program and Ihave been able to borrow videos, audiotapes, instructional books on CD, andbooks on learning Spanish from my local public library. I have been able totry out these materials and increased my knowledge without additionalexpense. I have also been able to choose one audiotape set that works best forme to purchase. This would not be possible to do through a commercialvendor.• I am a homeschool parent and on a very limited budget. We would be lostwithout the library. My child and I visit at least two days a week and she is anavid reader. I could never afford to buy this many books and instructionalmaterial on our own. The library staff is wonderful and much appreciated.• I lead a book club where I work. The library provides all of the books and thelibrarian assists with the selection of books and requests them for me. I ammore valuable to my employer because of this.• I was able to educate myself about mutual funds and investing, with thematerials available (like Morningstar) to make my own investment choicesand get out of the financial hole I was in.• The library enabled me to write a business plan for loan applications byproviding the economic data and "how to" books to guide me in writing theplan.• The library enhances the education services in our community. Our state doesnot have a good reputation nationally for our education system. Employeesrefuse transfers to our state because of this. Companies looking to relocatehave to factor this into their decision.• Web authoring skills that I self-taught using library resources have helped metake on new responsibilities in my current job. This has resulted in a largerraise this year than I'd have gotten otherwise.• As a teacher of elementary school children, I have the ability to use resourcesto enhance the curriculum that I would not have without the public library.The children in my classes benefit greatly.• Libraries are the absolute best benefit of paying taxes. They allow me topursue interests that I never would if I had to purchase every book I need forcasual reference.• The library is a very beneficial resource to homeschoolers. I can quickly haveany information I need to teach my children at my fingertips without having tomake pricey purchases.• Previewing references / books prior to purchase or instead of purchase;haven't rented a movie on VHS or DVD in ages since the library has such anice selection; tax forms / information to ensure that my taxes are donecorrectly and completely; saved money on products and services based onresearch done using library materials; my ravenously-reading 3-year-oldSouth Carolina Public Library Economic Impact Study 33