Caledon Public Library Provides $27.9 Million Value for the Caledon Community
Caledon, ON – Caledon Public Library (CPL) has released a report on the economic benefit to the community of its services, collections and spaces. The report finds that, last year, CPL delivered a total economic value of $27,922,954 million or $3.75 for every municipal dollar invested in the Library.
CPL evaluated key domains including education, economic development, social inclusion and well-being, and culture, calculating a social return on investment (SROI) of 374.83%. This equates to $312.94 per resident or $966.53 per household in 2025, effectively leveraging the municipal investment of $84.05 per resident.
To accompany the report, CPL has created a short video highlighting the key findings and impact of library services in the community. The video can be viewed on their YouTube channel.
“Public libraries are often described as free, but our spaces and services are largely funded through local taxes paid by residents and businesses,” said Colleen Lipp, CEO and Chief Librarian of Caledon Public Library. “This report shows that each municipal dollar invested delivers meaningful economic and social value in return. Using the Valuing Ontario Libraries Toolkit allows us to clearly measure not only financial impact, but also the broader benefits that support learning, connection, and well-being across Caledon.”
CPL measured its value using the Valuing Ontario Libraries Toolkit (VOLT) developed by the Ontario Library Service and the NORDIK Institute. VOLT helps libraries apply a dollar value to the services they offer for free in order to calculate the benefit provided.
“The Library plays an essential role as a welcoming space and free public resource in our community,” said Tony Maxwell, Chair of the Caledon Public Library Board. “This report helps demonstrate the impact of library services, while reinforcing the Board’s role as a responsible steward of public investment. As we continue to evaluate the economic benefit every two years, we remain focused on increasing that return and ensuring our services reflect the evolving needs of Caledon residents.”