Calculations Show Library is a Bargain

Every tax dollar the city of Burlington invested into library services last fiscal year provided an $8.71 value to the public.
     That a calculation library director Kay Weiss said she recently derived by using an estimated return on investment method suggested by author Joe Matthews in the book Measuring for Results:  The Dimensions of Public Library Effectiveness.
     Using arbitrary figures on what books and particular library services may cost if patrons had to ay for them, Weiss said the $1.23 million the city spent on library services last fiscal year provided $10.7 million worth of benefits to the public.
     The following is Weiss' breakdown.
In 2003-04, 354,402 items were checked out of the library.  If these items were purchased at an average cost of $20 each, the estimated value would be $7,088,040, according to Weiss' estimates.
Patrons used 310 library items last fiscal year.  If these items were purchased at $10 apiece, the cost would be $3.1 million, according to the estimates.
Patrons asked 32,214 reference questions last fiscal year that were answered by a library staff member.  If the charge for this was $2, revenues would equal $64,428, according to Weiss' figures.
Library staff members logged 11,647 one-hour Internet sessions.  If there was a $4 charge for this, revenue would be $46,588.
Library staff retrieved 6,868 articles using the library's online access to full-text electronic magazines and newspapers.  If each article was purchased at $5 apiece, the estimated value would be $34,340, according to the estimates.
Patrons performed 66,292 searches on the library's electronic access to digital census and genealogical materials.  If each search was purchased at $5 each, the amount of money raised would be $331,460, according to Weiss.
There were 1,219 young people who registered to participate in summer library activities.  If the registration fee was $5, revenues would be $6,095, Weiss said.
There were 6,790 people who attended children's programs presented at the library last fiscal year.  If there was a $2.50 admission fee, revenues would have equaled $16,975, according to the estimates.
     If Weiss' numbers are true, the total benefit to the community would amount to $10,687,926.
     Tax support for library services in 2003-04, which are provided free to the public, was $1,226,809, meaning for every tax dollar invested, the return investment was $8,71, Weiss said.