1. So Much More:
The Economic Impact
of the Toronto Public
Library on the City of
Toronto

2. About the Toronto Public Library
• TPL is one of the world’s busiest library systems with over 18 million
visits to 98 branches in 2013; 2 new branches will open in the next 18
months.
• 72% of Toronto citizens use the TPL throughout the year, and over
1.3 million people are registered library card holders
• In January 2013, City of Toronto Council asked the City Librarian to
commission a study to determine the economic impact of Toronto
Public Library to the City of Toronto, and to specifically analyze the
open hours policy.

3. About the Martin Prosperity Institute
• Part of the Rotman School of Management at the University of
Toronto
• Positioned at the intersection of academia, business and civil society
• Anchored by three of the world’s top thinkers and writers:
– Roger Martin, former Dean of Rotman School of Management;
author, Playing to Win
– Don Tapscott, Executive Director of the Global Solution Networks;
author, Wikinomics
– Richard Florida, author, The Rise of the Creative Class
• So Much More co-authored by Dr. Kevin Stolarick, Research Director
at MPI and Kimberly Silk, Data Librarian, completed December 2013.

4. Funding of Study
Estate of Norman G. Hinton

5. Step 1: Environmental Scan

6. Step 2: Methodology and Message
• Valuation of library
services
• Valuation of direct
spending
• Transparent
methodology
• Conservative estimates
• Clear message

7. Toronto Public Library creates
over $1 billion in total economic impact

8. Total direct benefits reach $502 per member

9. The average open hour at a branch generates
$2,515 in direct benefits

10. Intangible benefits deliver value
Opportunities for residents to
✓ improve literacy skills,
✓ enhance educational and
✓ employment opportunities,
✓ and improve quality of life
for themselves and their families

11. Step 3: Communicating the Results
• More, deeper studies are
needed – how to connect
outputs to outcomes?
• Value of collaborations
and partnerships
• Sharing and
communicating the study
results
• Importance of library
research

12. • More, deeper studies are needed – how to connect
outputs to outcomes?
• Value of collaborations and partnerships
• Sharing and communicating the study results
• Importance of library research
What We Learned

13. Thank you
The study can be found here:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/content/about-the-
library/pdfs/board/meetings/2013/dec09/10_1.pdf
For more information on the study contact:
Kimberly Silk, Data Librarian
Martin Prosperity Institute, University of Toronto
kimberly.silk@martinprosperity.org
@kimberlysilk
Elizabeth Glass, Manager, Planning & Development,
Planning, Policy and E-Service Delivery
Toronto Public Library
eglass@torontopubliclibrary.ca