This chart explains how we came up with the figures and retail costs used for calculating the value of library usage. Some values are estimates and/or averages based on retails costs.
Last updated January 2012.
| Type of Material or Service | Value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Adult Books Borrowed | $20.00 | Estimated average cost of a hardcover book |
| Children’s and Young Adult Books Borrowed | $15.00 | Estimated average cost of a children’s and young adult book |
| Paperback Books Borrowed | $7.00 | Estimated average cost of a paperback |
| Music CDs Borrowed | $15.00 | Estimated average cost of a music CD |
| Magazines Borrowed | $4.00 | Estimated cost to purchase a popular magazine |
| Movies Borrowed | $8.00 | Sample 7-day rental at a self-service kiosk |
| Audiobooks Borrowed/Downloaded | $30.00 | Estimated average price between downloading and purchasing an audiobook |
| eBooks Downloaded | $13.00 | Estimated average cost of an eBook |
| Museum Passes Borrowed (per person) | $9.00 | Admission price for one adult to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center |
| Interlibrary Loan Materials | $25.00 | Average cost for loans in New Hampshire |
| Meeting Room Use per Hour | $50.00 | Estimate |
| Auditorium Room Use per Hour | $250.00 | Estimate |
| Adult Programs Attended (per person) | $15.00 | Estimated cost for one adult to attend a show or program |
| Children’s Programs Attended (per person) | $10.00 | Estimated cost for one child to attend a show or program |
| Computer Use (per hour) | $12.00 | Sample hourly rate at a copy center |
| Computer Classes Taken | $25.00 | Sample fee for group computer instruction or personalized training |
| Online Newspaper/Magazine Article Access | $2.50 | Estimated average cost to download an article from one a newspaper or magazine |
| Reference Questions Asked | $8.00 | Estimated cost per question |