Have you ever wondered how your library use impacts your bank account? How much do you think you save by using the library instead of buying that new book, subscribing to Kindle Unlimited, or paying for a night at the movie theater? Check out this Library Value Calculator and prepare to be amazed!
Imagine you stop by the library today. After reading the paper, and enjoying a free Tai Chi class, you hop on a library computer to check your email and print some things outs. The new book shelf has so many things you want to read! You check out 2 adult hardcover books for yourself, and grab 3 books to take home for your kids. Bonus: the library has the DVD set for a show you’ve been wanting to see for ages, but you don’t have the streaming service. They also have some of those beautiful new boardgames you’ve been hearing about from friends. You’ve been thinking it would be fun to try a family game night….
On the spur of the moment, you decide to borrow the library’s pass for the Morven Museum & Garden which you plan to use to bring 2 adults and 2 children to visit during the beautiful fall weather. A librarian helps you download a digital audiobook to listen to while walking the dog. The librarian also helps you borrow the new Taylor Swift album to stream on your phone using our Hoopla app–you want to know what all the hubbub is but you don’t want to pay for it.
How much do you think you saved today? Here’s our best estimate:
- Read today’s paper: $3.00
- Take a Tai chi class: $15.00
- Use a library computer (compare to the cost of use at Staples or FedEx): $10.00
- Borrow, rather than buy, 2 adult hardcover books: $50.00
- Borrow, rather than buy, 3 children’s books: $45.00
- Borrow a DVD set for a TV show (compare to the cost of paying a monthly fee for a streaming service): $15.00
- Borrow, rather than buy a modern boardgame: $40.00 (or more)
- Take a family of 4 to the Morven Museum & Garden $44.00
- Get help from a reference professional: $10
- Borrow 1 audiobook (compare to the cost of downloading from Audible): $15.00
- Borrow and stream 1 music CD (compare to the cost of paying a monthly fee for a streaming service): $10.00
TOTAL SAVINGS = $ 257.00!
That’s just for today’s visit! Now imagine you make similar visits every month, or every week. It really adds up!
Your mileage may vary: think about every way you have used the library this year, and try using the calculator linked above. We’d love to hear what YOU saved! Please let us know the next time you visit.