Scarborough (ME) Public Library

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What is your library worth to you?

“The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library." -- Malcolm Forbes

Curious about how much you save by using library services that are freely availble to you? Use our library value calulator below to determine the savings for your family.

Enter in the left hand column the number of items or times per month you or your family use each service.

Estimated retail value of each service will be automatically calculated on the right when you tab to the next entry.
Total value of your library use is shown at the bottom of the worksheet.
Tip: Tab between entries, do not use commas, and besure to click in the "Calculate" button to finish.


Input Your Use	Library Services	Value of Services
	Book(s) Borrowed	$
	Magazine(s) Borrowed	$
	Video(s) Purchased	$
	Audio Book(s) Purchased	$
	Museum Pass(es) Borrowed	$
	Newspaper(s) / Magazine(s) Used in Library	$
	Interlibrary Loan	$
	Meeting Room Use per Hour	$
	Conference Room Use per Hour	$
	Program(s) / Class(es) Attended - Adult	$
	Program(s) Attended - Children	$
	Computer Use per Hour (e. g. e.g., Internet and MS Office applications )	$
	Maine Newspapers Viewed Online	$
	Number of full-text articles accessed from library's Web site (MARVEL!)	$
	Reference Question(s) Asked	$

		$

The calculator worksheet has been adapted from the a downloadable spreadsheet, originally provided by the Massachusetts Library Association and then adapted for the web by Chelmsford (MA) Public Library. The Scarborough Public Library further styled and customized this worksheet to reflect local values.

Scarborough Values and Explanation for Library Use Value Calculator

This chart provides the background for the estimated retail values. Some of the values are estimates and averages provided by the Maine State Library with revisions to reflect local 2008 costs.


Item	Estimated Retail Value	Values Explained
Book(s) Borrowed	$22.00	Estimated average cost of hardcover & paperback
Magazine(s) Borrowed	$4.95	Average cost to purchase a popular periodical issue
Video(s) Purchased	$22.00	Average cost to purchase a popular video
Audio Book(s) Purchased	$41.00	Average cost to purchase an audio book
Museum Pass Borrowed	$20.00	Sample museum admission for two
Newspaper(s) / Magazine(s) Used in Library	$10.00	Monthly cost of popular periodical / newspapers subscriptions per household - estimated
Interlibrary Loan	$30.00	Average cost to process, deliver and return item in Maine
Meeting Room Use per Hour	$40.00	Actual
Conference Room Use per Hour	$20.00	Actual
Program(s) / Class(es) Attended - Adult	$10.00	Estimate
Program(s) Attended - Children	$6.00	Estimate
Computer Use per Hour (e. g. e.g., Internet and MS Office applications )	$12.00	Sample hourly rate at a Portland copy center
Maine Newspapers Viewed Online	$1.00	Average cost per article
Number of full-text articles accessed from library's Web site (MARVEL!)	$20.00	Minimum cost for monthly access to sample online database
Reference Question(s) Asked	$15.00	Estimated cost per question

We'd love to hear the value you arrived at. Email us at askSPL@scarborough.lib.me.us

Scarborough Public Library ~ 48 Gorham Road ~ Scarborough, ME 04074
(v) 207.883.4723 ~ (f) 207.883.9728 ~ (tdd) 207.883.8143