Library Use Value Calculator Explained
This chart explains how we came up with the figures and retail costs used for calculating the value of library usage. Some values are estimates and/or averages based on retails costs of 2009.
| Item | Estimated Retail Value |
Values Explained - September 2009 |
| Adult Book Borrowed | $20.00 | Estimated average cost hardcover book |
| Children and Young Adult Book Borrowed | $15.00 | Estimated average cost of children's and young adult books |
| Paperback Book Borrowed | $7.00 | Estimated average cost of a paperback |
| Music CD Borrowed | $15.00 | Estimated average cost of a music CD |
| Magazine Borrowed | $4.00 | Estimated cost to purchase a popular periodical issue |
| Movies Borrowed | $4.00 | Sample video rental at video store |
| Audiobooks Borrowed | $30.00 | Average price between downloading and purchasing
an audiobook |
| Museum Passes
Borrowed (per person) |
$9.00 | Admission price for one adult to the Christa
McAuliffe Planetarium |
| Magazine Use in Library | $4.00 | Estimated cost to purchase a popular periodical issue |
| Interlibrary
Loan Materials |
$25.00 | Average cost for loans in New Hampshire |
| Meeting Room Use per Hour | $50.00 | Estimate |
| Auditorium Room Use per Hour | $250.00 | Estimate |
| Adult Programs
Attended |
$15.00 | Average cost for one adult to attend a show or
program |
| Children's Programs Attended | $10.00 | Average cost for one child to attend a show or
program |
| Hours of Computer Use (i.e. Internet, MS Word, etc.) | $12.00 | Sample hourly rate at a copy center |
| Computer Classes Taken (i.e. Computer Basics, Microsoft Office, etc.) | $25.00 | Sample fee for group computer instruction or personalized training |
| Newspaper/Magazine Articles and other Electronic Resources accessed through Library Databases |
$2.50 | Cost to download an article from one a newspaper or magazine |
| Reference Questions | $8.00 | Estimated cost per question |
The NH Library Use Calculator is based on the spreadsheet developed by the Massachusetts Library Association and adapted for web use by the Maine State Library, the Chelmsford Public Library and the Chesley Memorial Library.
