Library Use Value Calculator

How Much is Your Library
Worth to You???

What is your library worth to you?

How much would you pay out-of-pocket for your library services?

Enter in the left hand column the number of times per month you or your family use each service.
Estimated retail value of each service will be calculated on the right.
Total value of your library use is shown at the bottom of the worksheet.
Tip: Tab between entries and do not use commas.

Value of Library Services
Input Your Use	Library Services	Value of Services
	Books Borrowed	$
	Paperbacks Borrowed	$
	Magazines Borrowed	$
	Movies (DVDs) Borrowed	$
	Audio Books Borrowed	$
	Items Borrowed from Other Libraries	$
	Meeting Room Use per Hour	$
	Adult & Childrens Programs Attended	$
	Computer Classes Attended	$
	Hours of Internet and Computer Use	$
	Newspapers Viewed In-house or Online	$
	Research Databases used per month	$
	Reference Questions Asked	$

		$

The calculator worksheet has been adapted from the downloadable spreadsheet, originally provided by the Massachusetts Library Association and then adapted for the web by Chelmsford Public Library. Maine State Library added extra accessibility coding and reformatting for ease of reading online and was futher adapted by the Twinsburg Public Library This spreadsheet requires either Microsoft Excel or the Excel Viewer.

How did we arrive at these values?

Books Borrowed	Comparable to cost of Borders average discounted hardback.
Paperbacks Borrowed	Comparable to Borders average paperback cost.
Magazine Borrowed	Comparable to average retail purchase.
Movies Borrowed	Comparable the average rental cost at a movie rental store.
Audio Books Borrowed	Comparable to Borders Audio Book on CD retail purchase.
Items Borrowed from Other Libraries	Comparable to cost of time and transportation.
Meeting Room Use per Hour	Based on commercial charge for use of Library meeting space.
Adult and Children’s Programs Attended	Comparable to local recreation and entertainment centers.
Computer Classes Attended	Comparable to computer training course at Tri-C for a similar length.
Hours of Computer and Internet Use	Comparable to purchase of personal hardware, software, and internet access.
Newspapers Viewed In-house and Online	Comparable to purchase of daily newspaper.
Research Databases used per month	Comparable to purchase of individual monthly access.
Reference Questions Asked	Comparable to phone reference, information, or technical support.