Public Libraries: A Beacon for Innovation in Communities
Research shows the impact libraries have on sparking new ideas and inspiration among their patrons
As libraries continue to receive the brunt of Republican attacks, new research continues to emerge about their significant impact on communities.
An updated study from economic researchers Enrico Berkes and Peter Nencka in The Review of Economics and Statistics, a journal published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press and Harvard Kennedy School, illustrates the correlation between the establishment of libraries in communities between 1883 and 1919 and the rise of innovation and commercialization.
Andrew Carnegie’s Drive to Build Libraries
Beginning in 1883, steel titan Andrew Carnegie funded the development of more than 1,500 public libraries throughout the US. Berkes and Nencka’s research found that the establishment of these libraries increased low-cost access to knowledge, books, and technology in previously unserved communities, leading to an increase in innovation amongst their residents.
Gathering the Data
The study measured this increase by analyzing the change in the number of patents filed by individuals in these communities through data provided by the Comprehensive Universe of U.S. Patents.
Not only did they find that patenting increased by 10 to 12 percent over the course of twenty years compared to communities that declined to have Carnegie-funded libraries built in their cities, but they also found that this number increased for historically underrepresented populations, including women, immigrants, and people of color.
This increase can be attributed to the fact that libraries provide affordable access to information and materials regardless of class or economic status and serve as hubs for community programs.
At the turn of the century, residents of cities with public libraries could attend classes on farming, manufacturing, and other subjects pertinent to economic prosperity while checking out educational materials and meeting with like-minded folks in their towns, furthering the potential for innovation.
The Importance of Libraries Today
Though the study highlights the need for further research on the similar impact of Google, Wikipedia, and other modern technologies on innovation in the present, this work is indicative of the importance of public libraries in communities.
Today, community members can check out everything from books and movies to telescopes and other educational materials, attend language classes, and obtain passports — among many other things. Library workers go above and beyond to learn the needs of the communities they serve to better implement programming and provide access to crucial books and materials.
From the time Carnegie began to invest in public libraries in 1883 to today, libraries have served as the beacon for knowledge, innovation, and community engagement across the country and beyond.
Learn more about how you can get involved and protect libraries in your community here.
Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries.
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