Library Use Value Calculator

Calculate the Value of YOUR Library Use!

Curious how much the services the library provides you would cost if you had to pay for them directly? To find out, just enter in the lefthand column the number of times you or your family use each service listed down the center. The estimated retail value of each service will be calculated on the right, and the total value of your library use is shown at the bottom of the worksheet – and let us know what you think about our library service!

Input Your Use Library Materials & Services Value of Your Use
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This worksheet has been adapted from the Massachusetts Library Association.

 

How the Values are Calculated

 

The cost figures for library services were derived by the Massachusetts Library Association based on the table below, last updated in 2013:

Library Service Value of Service Based On
Adult Books Borrowed $17.00 Amazon.com average price
Young Adult Books Borrowed $12.00 Amazon.com average price
Children Books Borrowed $17.00 Amazon.com average price
Audiobooks Borrowed $9.95 Audible.com download average
Interlibrary Loan Requests $25.00 Amazon.com average price plus shipping
eBooks Downloaded $15.00 Estimated B&N/Amazon average
Magazines Read $5.00 Estimated purchase price average
Newspapers Read $9.50 Boston Globe subscription (outside city)
Movies Borrowed $4.00 Estimated Netflix average
CDs Borrowed $9.95 iTunes download album average
Meeting Room Use (per hour) $25.00 Estimated value
Adult Programs Attended $15.00 Entertainment/program admission fee – estimated average per adult
Young Adult Programs Attended $12.00 Entertainment/program admission fee – estimated average per youth
Children’s Programs Attended $7.00 Entertainment/program admission fee – estimated average per child
Museum Passes Borrowed $20.00 Museum admission fee – estimated average for two adults
Computer Use (per hour) $12.00 FedEx/Kinkos price
Database Searches $19.95 Average cost for online article search
Reference Assistance $7.00 Average library cost