Libraries in Louisiana strengthen the economy and serve the people. Libraries and their employees play a significant role in the Louisiana infrastructure, consuming state goods and services, complementing educational institutions, creating a literate citizenry, and providing cost effective access to information for business, industry, government officials and employees, private citizens, and students. This pamphlet summarizes the economic and service impact of Louisiana public and academic libraries in 1996, providing data and statistics on topics including: the value of the state's public and academic library collections; taxes derived from library employees; library operating and collection development expenditures; costs of renovations; grants; literacy and unemployment rates; per capita public library expenditures; role of public libraries in Louisiana; number of visits to public libraries, number of library cards, and number of books borrowed; access; operating hours; and voter support for Louisiana libraries. The pamphlet also covers the role and services of the State Library of Louisiana. (SWC)