Contingent Valuation Study on the Modernization of Public Libraries in Mexico

Abstract

Public libraries have evolved from being perceived as silent places of individual activity, to being considered spaces that are immersed in their context, where diverse knowledge inhabit, and that foster community participation, meeting and recreation. In this paper, the contingent valuation method (CVM) is implemented to measure in monetary terms the social welfare that an innovative update of local public libraries would provide to Mexican society. Results are obtained that shed light on the need to apply public policies that encourage these spaces to fulfill their full potential for the benefit of society.