Public libraries are cost-effective information providers

Public libraries provide a wealth of information resources and services in a timely and cost-effective manner and so save people time and money and help to contribute to better decision making. Information is an increasingly valuable tool, yet Canadians have less discretionary income to spend on information resources. Therefore, public libraries are well positioned to play an active and important role in the ever-developing information era.

• "if time is money, then librarians can provide a direct benefit to the user by saying time. The well-trained reference librarian can usually locate usable information more accurately and quickly than the library user" (Ellis, 1994, p.54)

• of the people visiting the library for work-related information, "40% saved time or money; 25% resulted in performing work better; and 18% resulted in completing work faster" (Griffiths and King, 1994, p.86/87)

• "due to their organized methods of identifying, locating, and retrieving information, libraries save users millions of dollars each year in time not wasted attempting to recreate data already available, time saved in not duplicating work already done, and time not wasted on erroneous work" (Kraushaar, 1990, p.167)

• Public libraries are an effective vehicle for ensuring that Canadians have the information they need to make wise decisions leading to economic success.

• "Libraries serve as a cost-efficient and convenient access route to accurate, in-depth information" (Canadian Publishers' Council, 1996, p.1)