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Library Calculator Explanation

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
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

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