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 |
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 |
Music Downloaded | $1.00 | iTunes download song 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 |