Library Use Value Calculator
Explanations of Values

The cost figures for library services were derived by the Massachusetts Library Association based on the table below:

Library Service       Value of Service Based On
Adult Books borrowed $17.00 Amazon.com average price
Children/Young Adult books borrowed $12.00 Amazon.com average price
Magazines borrowed $5.00 Estimated purchase price average
Newspapers browsed per week $5.50 Norwich Bulletin subscription
Videos borrowed $4.00 Blockbuster average
Audio Books borrowed $9.95 Audible.com download average
CD's borrowed $9.95 iTunes download album average
Museum Pass borrowed $30.00 Typical savings for two attendees at a Connecticut museum
Interlibrary Loan request filled $25.00 Amazon.com average price plus shipping
Meeting/study room use per hour $25.00 Estimated value
Auditorium use per hour $250.00 Estimated value
Adult Programs attended $15.00 Museum program/admission fee (single)
Children's Programs attended $7.00 Museum program/admission fee - youth
Hours of Computer Use (Internet, MS Word, etc.) $12.00 FedEx-Kinkos price
Online Magazine or Newspaper Article $2.00 Average cost for online article search
Information Research Requests Answered $7.00 Average library cost

This online calculator was created by Brian Herzog of the Chelmsford Public Library. The Otis Library has adapted it (with permission) for our own use. It was orignally adapted from the downloadable spreadsheet [xls] created by the Massachusetts Library Association Legislative Committee and posted by a member, Greg Pronevitz of Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System.

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