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 (if purchased) 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.
Input Your Use
Library Services
Value of Services
Books Borrowed
$
Paperback Borrowed
$
Children Books Borrowed
$
Audiobooks Borrowed
$
Interlibrary Loan Requests
$
eBooks/Audiobooks Downloaded
$
Magazines Borrowed
$
Movies Borrowed
$
CDs Borrowed
$
Museum Passes Borrowed
$
Magazine/Newspaper Use in Library
$
Meeting Room Use per Hour
$
Auditorium Use per Hour
$
Adult Programs and Classes Attended
$
Children's Programs Attended
$
Computer Use per hour (i.e. Internet, MS Word, etc.)
$
Reference Questions Asked
$
Value of Library Services $0.00

The calculator worksheet has been adapted from original downloadable spreadsheet by the Massachusetts Library Association.

More information

The retail values of each individual service were provided by the Maine State Library, and represent estimated or average costs for library resources and services.  For example, they used an average between hardcover and paperback prices for adult and children’s books from online retailers to arrive at average prices for those categories.  They also relied on the Library and Book Trade Almanac for other print material prices.  The numbers were last updated in 2014.  Prices may have changed since that time, and there may also be regional differences that would affect the costs experienced by individual libraries in other states.