Libraries Are Resilience Hubs

Figures & data

Table 1. Libraries’ economic mission: Descriptive statistics.

Question: What do you consider to be a library’s role with regards to low-income patrons or those affected by economic recessions? (check all that apply)
Response choices (and weights used for the Economic Mission index)	Count (% of total), N = 372
Nothing, it’s not a library’s role to serve specific populations (0 pts)	3 (0.8)
Stay out of economic/market processes (0 pts)	5 (1.3)
Provide information about jobs, job search websites, etc. (1 pt)	339 (91.1)
Provide information about social services, government websites, etc. (1 pt)	343 (92.2)
Help individuals get jobs (4 pts)	58 (15.6)
Help individuals access social services (3 pts)	252 (67.7)
Provide classes and training for skill development (2 pts)	172 (46.2)
Advocacy for community services and resources (3 pts)	234 (62.9)
Other	33 (8.9)

Note: Percentage adds up to more than 100% because respondents could select more than one choice.

Table 2. Libraries’ support to patrons facing economic hardships (job search and access to social services): Descriptive statistics.

Question: Do you provide any of the following services? (check all that apply)
Response choices	Count (% of total), N = 383
	Individualized support, available anytime (4 pts)	Workshops a few times per month (3 pts)	Workshops a few times per year (2 pts)	We provide documentation/brochures but no dedicated staff time (1 pt)	No (0 pts)
Resume writing support	177 (46.2)	6 (1.6)	47 (12.3)	108 (28.2)	62 (16.2)
Job search/application support	217 (56.7)	7 (1.8)	25 (6.5)	116 (30.3)	39 (10.2)
Professional skills training	47 (12.3)	12 (3.1)	52 (13.6)	132 (34.5)	133 (34.7)
Support accessing social services	193 (50.4)	1 (0.3)	12 (3.1)	142 (37.1)	41 (10.7)
Support finding housing	102 (26.6)	3 (0.8)	7 (1.8)	149 (38.9)	111 (29.0)
Support filing taxes	86 (22.5)	5 (1.3)	35 (9.1)	171 (44.6)	85 (22.2)
Support for driver’s license	75 (19.6)	3 (0.8)	6 (1.6)	132 (34.5)	154 (40.2)
Printing/fax services	366 (95.6)	0 (0)	3 (0.8)	11 (2.9)	8 (2.1)
Other, please specify	38 (9.9)

Note: Percentage adds up to more than 100% because respondents could select more than one choice.

Table 3. Determinants of libraries’ missions and practices: Regression models.

Factors influencing library practices	Library mission indices			Library practice indices
	Economic Mission β (SE)	Weather Mission β (SE)	COVID-19 Mission β (SE)	Economic Practice β (SE)	Social Practice β (SE)	Weather Practice β (SE)	COVID-19 Practice, 2020 β (SE)	COVID-19 Innovation, 2020 β (SE)
Median income (logged)	−1.081* (0.557)	0.279 (0.540)	0.521 (0.485)	−0.522 (0.443)	−0.945** (0.449)	−0.597 (0.408)	−0.412 (0.572)	−0.166 (0.653)
% Republican	−0.00709 (0.0121)	0.00769 (0.0116)	−0.00224 (0.0105)	0.0186** (0.00938)	0.0325*** (0.00966)	0.00330 (0.00875)	0.000927 (0.0126)	0.00344 (0.0144)
Population (logged)	0.209** (0.104)	−0.154 (0.100)	0.0736 (0.0904)	0.220*** (0.0810)	0.0820 (0.0835)	0.226*** (0.0759)	0.200* (0.104)	0.200* (0.118)
Total library revenue per patron served	0.00166 (0.00291)	−0.00220 (0.00280)	0.0000116 (0.00253)	0.00594** (0.00225)	0.00382 (0.00233)	0.000108 (0.00211)	−0.00309 (0.00283)	−0.00482 (0.00323)
% White	−0.0127 (0.0117)	0.00583 (0.0113)	−0.0143 (0.0101)	−0.00422 (0.00904)	−0.00579 (0.00934)	0.00376 (0.00847)	0.00564 (0.0116)	0.0103 (0.0133)
Economic Mission index	—	0.209*** (0.0565)	0.194*** (0.0508)	0.332*** (0.0467)	0.374*** (0.0481)	0.0614 (0.0437)	−0.0522 (0.0600)	−0.0332 (0.0684)
Weather Mission index	0.226*** (0.0609)	—	0.0660 (0.0539)	0.113** (0.0482)	0.0496 (0.0498)	0.0399 (0.0457)	0.0198 (0.0628)	0.0308 (0.0716)
COVID-19 Mission index	0.259*** (0.0676)	0.0815 (0.0666)	—	0.0309 (0.0536)	0.0363 (0.0554)	0.116** (0.0502)	−0.124* (0.0699)	−0.138* (0.0797)
Observations	285	285	285	282	284	280	258	258
R^2 (unadjusted)	0.1501	0.0721	0.1010	0.2757	0.2886	0.0885	0.0400	0.0377

Note: Total observations differ by each variable due to missing survey responses for questions that correspond to their respective index. Standard errors in parentheses.

*p < .10. **p < .05. ***p < .01.

Table 4. Socioeconomic factors’ impact on libraries’ total revenue per patron served.

Socioeconomic factors	Total revenue per patron served (2019)
	β (SE)
Median income (logged)	32.705*** (9.838)
% Republican	−0.161 (0.219)
Population (logged)	−3.982** (1.820)
% White	−0.602*** (0.210)
Observations	337
R^2 (unadjusted)	0.0746

Note: Standard errors in parentheses.

*p < .10. **p < .05. ***p < .01.

Table 5. Libraries’ weather-related mission.

Question: What do you think is a library’s role for those who struggle with extreme heat and cold events; for example, homeless or low-income persons? (check up to 2)
Response choices (index weights)	Count (% of the total count), N = 371
It is not a library’s role to do anything about heat and cold events (0 pts)	14 (3.8)
Libraries can act as cooling centers and warm shelters (1 pt)	213 (57.4)
Libraries should act cooling centers and warm shelters (1 pt)	178 (48.0)
Other	27 (7.3)

Note: Percentage adds up to more than 100% because respondents could select more than one choice.

Table 6. Libraries’ weather-related practices.

Question: With regards to extreme weather events, what best describes your library practices? (check all that apply)
Response choices (index weights)	Count (% of the total count), N = 367
Open-door policy; anyone can come in and stay as long as they wish during operating hours (provided they don’t disturb other patrons) (0 pts)	320 (87.2)
We act as a shelter for homeless and low-income residents in winter (1 pt)	27 (7.4)
We act as a cooling center for homeless and low-income residents in summer (1 pt)	49 (13.4)
We extend opening hours in extreme cold weather (1 pt)	2 (0.5)
We extend opening hours in extreme hot weather (1 pt)	1 (0.3)
In extreme cold weather, we open a lobby or part of our building during some/all hours when the library is closed (1 pt)	8 (2.2)
In extreme heat weather, we open a lobby or part of our building during some/all hours when the library is closed (1 pt)	5 (1.4)
No specific weather-related practices (0 pts)	109 (29.7)
Other	15 (4.1)

Note: Percentage adds up to more than 100% because respondents could select more than one choice.

Table 7. Libraries’ COVID-19-related mission.

Question: With regard to COVID-19 and other epidemics, what do you think is a library’s role? (select all that apply)
Response choices (index weights)	Count (% of the total count), N = 371
Nothing; it’s not a library’s role to tell people what to think or do (0 pts)	18 (4.9)
Provide accurate health information (2 pts)	313 (84.4)
Protect staff’s health and safety (1 pt)	351 (94.6)
Protect patrons’ health and safety (3 pts)	324 (87.3)
Create and disseminate new programs/information to assist patrons in making informed decisions (4 pts)	148 (39.9)
Encourage community members to take protective measures (social distancing, masks, getting vaccinated) (5 pts)	212 (57.1)
Other, please specify	28 (7.5)

Note: Percentage adds up to more than 100% because respondents could select more than one choice.

Table 8. Libraries’ COVID-related practices in 2020 and in 2022.

Question: In response to COVID-19, how did you change your practices, policies, and/or procedures? (please check all that apply)
Response choices (index weights)	Count (% of the total count), N = 379
	March–December, 2020	Now (at the time of the survey), 2022
No change (0 pts)	20 (5.3%)	28 (7.4)
Hand sanitizer available (1 pt)	335 (88.4%)	330 (87.1)
Ask staff to wear masks (1 pt)	309 (81.5%)	197 (52.0)
Ask patrons to wear masks (1 pt)	298 (78.6%)	156 (41.2)
Require masks (1 pt)	247 (65.2%)	85 (22.4)
Close the library entirely (0 pts)	195 (51.5%)	1 (0.3)
Close the building but provide alternative services (2 pts)	285 (75.2%)	16 (4.2)
Provide curbside pickup (2 pts)	335 (88.4%)	245 (64.6)
Provide new online services (e-books, video streaming) (3 pts)	196 (51.7%)	168 (44.3)
Increase existing online services (e-books, video streaming) (2 pts)	243 (64.1%)	214 (56.5)
Adding wireless internet access points outside the building (e.g., parking lot) (4 pts)	193 (50.9%)	164 (43.3)
Provide new delocalized services (bookmobile) (4 pts)	16 (4.2%)	22 (5.8)
Increase existing delocalized services (bookmobile) (3 pts)	20 (5.3%)	26 (6.9)
Provide more information services over the phone (2 pts)	177 (46.7%)	120 (31.7)
Provide information services by Zoom/teleconferencing (3 pts)	156 (41.2%)	123 (32.5)

Note: “Other” responses, not listed here, included serving as COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites. Percentage adds up to more than 100% because respondents could select more than one choice.