This chart provides the explanation for the estimated retail values of
the items used in the
Library Use Value Calculator. Some of the values are estimates
and averages based on 2007 costs.
| Item |
Estimated Retail Value |
Values Explained |
| Book Borrowed |
$18.00 |
Estimated average discount cost of hardcover &
paperback |
| Magazine Borrowed |
$4.00 |
Estimated cost to purchase a popular periodical issue |
| Video Borrowed (e.g., local national chain) |
$2.00 |
Sample Video Rental at Video Store |
| Audio Books Borrowed |
$25.00 |
Introductory Rental Price at booksontape.com |
| Interlibrary Loan |
$25.00 |
Average cost for loans |
| Community Room Use |
$50.00 |
Average cost per booking |
| Program/Class Attended - Adult |
$15.00 |
Estimate |
| Program Attended - Children |
$8.00 |
Estimate |
| Computer Use - Internet and MS Word per hour |
$12.00 |
Sample hourly rate at a copy center |
| Wireless Access per hour |
$6.00 |
Sample hourly rate at a local wireless hotspot |
| Michigan Newspapers Online Articles Viewed |
$3.00 |
Average cost per article from newspaper archives |
| Other Database Searching - Number of Months Used |
$20.00 |
Minimum Cost for Monthly Access to Sample Online
Database |
| Reference Questions |
$7.00 |
Estimated cost per question |
