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 |
