Handout 4
Return on Investment Calculator
Calculate the Value of Services Used at Your Local Library with MLA's Online Spread Sheet Please input in the leftmost column the number of times you or your family have used the library services described below to learn how much it would have cost to purchase these services at estimated retail values. Input Your Quantity of Use Library Services Value of Services
Books Borrowed Magazines Borrowed Videos Borrowed (e.g., Blockbuster) Books on Tape Borrowed Museum Passes Borrowed Magazine Use in Library Interlibrary Loan Meeting Room Use per Hour Auditorium Use per Hour Adult Programs Attended Children's Programs Attended Hours of Computer Use, e.g., Internet and MS Word Boston Globe Articles Viewed Online Months of Use for Other Database Searching Reference Questions Asked Total Value
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Copyright Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) 2004 Online calculator available at: www.masslib.org/LibraryValue.html
Measuring Library Costs and Benefits Winter/Spring 2008 - This material has been created by Jeanne Goodrich for the Infopeople Project [infopeople.org], supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. Any use of this material should credit the author and funding source.
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Handout 4
Value of Library Services Further Information
Item
Estimated Retail Value
Values Explained - October 2003
Book Borrowed Magazine Borrowed Video Borrowed (e.g., Blockbuster) Book on Tape Borrowed Museum Pass Borrowed Magazine Use in Library Interlibrary Loan Meeting Room Use per Hour Auditorium Use per Hour Program Attended - Adult Program Attended - Children Computer Use, e.g., Internet and MS Word per hour Boston Globe Online Articles Viewed Other Database Searching Number of Months Used Reference Questions
$12.50 $2.00 $3.87 $9.95 $24.00 $2.00 $25.00 $50.00 $250.00 $15.00 $6.00 $12.00 $1.00 $19.95 $7.00
Estimated average discount cost of hardcover & paperback Estimated cost to purchase a popular periodical issue Sample Video Rental at Video Store Introductory Rental Price at booksontape.com Sample museum admission for two Estimated cost to purchase a popular periodical issue Average cost for loans in Massachusetts Estimate Estimate Sample museum program cost for a museum member Sample museum program cost for a museum member Sample hourly rate at a copy center Average cost per article Minimum Cost for Monthly Access to Sample Online Database Estimated cost per question
Copyright Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) 2004
www.masslib.org/value/info.html
Measuring Library Costs and Benefits Winter/Spring 2008 - This material has been created by Jeanne Goodrich for the Infopeople Project [infopeople.org], supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. Any use of this material should credit the author and funding source.
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