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Unequal Access: How Public Library Closures Affect Educational Performance

Lisa Hanzl,
Gregory Gilpin

Local public institutions, such as public libraries, offer access to low-cost educational resources, potentially mitigating human capital investment disparities. However, from 2008 to 2019, 766 public library outlets closed across the US, reducing access to these critical resources. This study examines the effect of public library outlet closures on library use and educational outcomes in nearby school districts. Using geolocated data and an event study approach, we find that library use declines by 32-42%, and reading and math scores decline by 0.021 and 0.046 standard deviations, respectively, in non-metropolitan areas, although high school graduation rates remain unaffected.

Keywords
Public libraries closures, education, local public institutions, event study
Education level
K-12 Education
Topics
Families and Communities
Tags
Assessment,
Elementary schools,
Neighborhoods
Download 02/2025
Document Object Identifier (DOI)
10.26300/asmz-tt79
EdWorkingPaper suggested citation:
Hanzl, Lisa, and Gregory Gilpin. (). Unequal Access: How Public Library Closures Affect Educational Performance. (EdWorkingPaper: -1140). Retrieved from Annenberg Institute at Brown University: https://doi.org/10.26300/asmz-tt79

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