Library Value Calculator

What is your library worth to you?

 

How much would you pay out-of-pocket for your library services?

  • Enter in the left-hand column the number of times per month you or your family use each service.
  • For any item calculated in Hours, enter your hours per month for that activity.
  • The estimated retail value of each service (if purchased) will be calculated on the right.
  • The total value of your library use is shown at the bottom of the worksheet.

For comparison, in West Des Moines, a rough average of taxes due in 2023-2024, City tax* is $10.90 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. Of that, the Library portion is roughly $0.72 per thousand. Therefore, the owner of a $250,000 value residence, would pay about $101.69 per year for Library services, which equates to about $8.47/month (numbers in Calculator below are by month).

If you'd like to share your results with us, note your totals and send us Your Library Story!

 

*This is a rough estimate for comparison purposes, as tax rates can vary with factors like rollback, homestead exemption, etc.

Input Your Use Library Services Value of Services

Adult Programs Attended

 $ 0.00

Magazine/Newspaper Use in Library

 $ 0.00

Reference Questions Asked

 $ 0.00

Puppets and Puzzles Borrowed

 $ 0.00

Paperback Books Borrowed

 $ 0.00

Music CDs Borrowed

 $ 0.00

Movies Borrowed

 $ 0.00

Meeting Room Use (per hour)

 $ 0.00

Magazines Borrowed

 $ 0.00

Interlibrary Loan

 $ 0.00

Audiobook CDs Borrowed

 $ 0.00

Hardcover Books Borrowed

 $ 0.00

eBooks Downloaded

 $ 0.00

eAudiobooks Downloaded

 $ 0.00

Database Searching (per hour)

 $ 0.00

Computer/Wi-Fi Use (per hour)

 $ 0.00

Children's Programs Attended

 $ 0.00

Children's Books Borrowed

 $ 0.00

What's a Good Book to Read?

 $ 0.00
Total Monthly Value of Library Services $ 0.00
Total Annual Value of Library Services $ 0.00

The calculator worksheet has been adapted from original downloadable spreadsheet by the Massachusetts Library Association and then adapted for the web by Chelmsford (MA) Public Library. Maine State Library added extra accessibility coding and reformatting for ease of reading online.