Wow! I didn't know that!

The Value of my Library

I just was reading about the value of libraries and thought our readers might be interested.
According to a report from the Utah State Library Division, the economic return to taxpayers’ investment in public libraries is $7.35 per public tax dollar (or $1.00) expended. The ROI (Return on Investment) was calculated by dividing the total economic value of public libraries minus the total direct benefit ($706,854,261 - $84,617,790 = $622,236,471) by the public tax support ($84,617,790) for all public libraries in Utah. This return per dollar of taxpayer funds comes back to taxpayers in the form of the value of public library services and the economic contribution of public libraries to the economy.

Wow talk about value for your money! Libraries rock. Join us for our National Library week celebrations this week. Check out our webpage,  www.bcpl.lib.ut.us for a full list of activities.

Michele Schumann
Children's Librarian

What is Your Library Worth to You?

I recently got an e-mail about something a library in Maine has on their website. It is a calculator to estimate the value a library is to you. Now when I say you, I really mean it. You put in your usage of various services available at libraries. The calculator asks you to enter values for a month's usage, but you could put in values for a year if you can estimate a year's usage. I put in usage values that were very modest, for the amount I use library services, to give me a monthly average on the value of my library. I estimated what I used during a slow reading month - not anyone else's usage in my family, just me. The calculator came up with a$243 value per month. Times that by twelve and -

My library is worth $2916 per year - MINIMUM!

I know sometimes I use library materials and services a lot more than what is reflected in the numbers I entered into the formula.

How much is your library worth to you?

Plug it into the calculator
and let us know by posting a comment.

Elizabeth