Public library valuation, nonuse values, and altruistic motivations

Abstract

Pressure on public budgets makes it important to quantify the value of public libraries to citizens and society. Public library services cause both direct and indirect benefits, corresponding to use, option, and nonuse values. Empirical data from a study of public libraries in Norway indicate that approximately 40% of their total value is motivated by direct use value, 20% by option value; which is a potential use value; and 40% by nonuse value. Nonuse values are thus an important component, and the exclusion of such values in cost–benefit analyses of public libraries may grossly underestimate public libraries' overall worth to society. The study elicits motivations for nonuse values of libraries and finds that 15–30% of total value is motivated by “global” altruism, directed toward others than the respondents' own close families.