New national research showing overwhelming public support for libraries reinforces many of the conversations taking place among library leaders across the country, including at a national leadership forum recently attended by Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County Director and CEO Aimee Fifarek.
Fifarek participated in the 2026 Urban Libraries Council Annual Leadership Forum, held last week. This year’s theme, “In Demand: The People and Power of Public Libraries,” focused on library relevance, leadership, communication, and community value.
Sessions addressed issues including strengthening public trust, communicating the impact of library services, and finding better ways to demonstrate the value libraries provide to their communities.
“The conversations at the forum reflected something we see every day in the Mahoning Valley, communities continue to depend on their libraries in many different ways,” Fifarek said. “The challenge for libraries is not only to provide those services effectively, but also to clearly demonstrate their impact and make sure we are using public resources responsibly.”
That national discussion is supported by new research from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and NORC at the University of Chicago.
The Knight Foundation-NORC survey found that 93% of American adults view their local public library as either an essential or valuable public service, including 63% who consider it essential.
The research also found:
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81% highly value libraries for providing access to books, media and information.
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62% say their local library is extremely or very valuable to their community, with another 30% saying it is somewhat valuable.
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93% believe cuts to their local library’s budget would affect their community, including 45% who believe the impact would be major.
The national findings closely mirror research highlighted by PLYMC earlier this year showing similarly strong support for libraries among Ohio residents. https://members.olc.org/news/Details/new-research-shows-ohioans-strongly-value-local-library-services-and-support-local-funding-that-keeps-them-strong-315127, opens a new window
That statewide research found that 90% of Ohioans say libraries are important to their community, while 87% say they receive their money’s worth from library services. It also found that 71% believe libraries provide basic services people rely on every day and 69% can identify a time when a library helped them personally.
“The consistency between what we are seeing nationally and what Ohioans have told us is significant,” Fifarek said. “People recognize that libraries provide real value. For PLYMC, our responsibility is to continue earning that confidence by delivering measurable results, being careful stewards of taxpayer resources and providing services that help strengthen the entire region.”
PLYMC provides services across Mahoning County that support early literacy and education, workforce development, access to technology and information, small businesses, lifelong learning, and community connection.
Follow PLYMC on social media (Facebook, opens a new window, Twitter, opens a new window, Instagram, opens a new window, and TikTok, opens a new window) and check www.libraryvisit.org, opens a new window for updates.
The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (PLYMC) has served the Mahoning Valley since 1880 when the Youngstown Library Association was officially created. With 14 branches across Mahoning County, including Main Library in downtown Youngstown, PLYMC is well known for its signature services and programs like Summer Discovery and 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. PLYMC serves our communities by preparing children for kindergarten, promoting early literacy, assisting job seekers, connecting Valley residents to technology, and providing resources for small businesses.