Toting Up Libraries' Value

By Staff -- Library Journal, 11/01/2006

How much would the public pay out of pocket for library services? The Maine State Library provides a neat Library Use Value Calculator that allows librarians and members of the public to try to come up with some numbers. Among the categories: books/magazines/movies/audiobooks borrowed; interlibrary loans; meeting room use; adult/children's programs; computer use; database searching; and reference questions asked. The calculator idea came from the downloadable spreadsheet originally provided by the Massachusetts Library Association and was adapted for the web by Chelmsford Public Library, MA. Because some values may vary by area, users can edit the calculator. See tinyurl.com/ko9dt.