As an interesting and useful exercise, we calculated the value of library services used by our patrons last year as if they had paid for them rather than using the library. (Of course, we realize that chances are that many patrons would have chosen to go without books, programs, computers, etc. instead of paying for them.)
To calculate these values, we entered our 2025 library statistical information into the Library Value Calculator found at https://ilovelibraries.org/calculator/.
| Library Materials & Services | Value of Use |
| 11,181 Adult Books Borrowed | $ 190,077.00 |
| 411 YA Books Borrowed | $ 4,932.00 |
| 11,286 Children’s Books Borrowed | $ 191,862.00 |
| 3,937 Audiobooks Borrowed (physical & digital formats) | $ 37,401.50 |
| 1,127 Interlibrary Loan Requests | $ 28,175.00 |
| 1,580 eBooks Downloaded | $ 23,700.00 |
| 2,620 Magazines and Newspapers Read (physical & digital formats) | $ 17,928.50 |
| 3,897 Movies Borrowed (physical & digital formats) | $ 14,104.00 |
| 37 Music CDs Borrowed | $ 368.15 |
| 307 Meeting Room Uses (per hour) | $ 7,675.00 |
| 1,988 Adult Programs Attended | $ 29,820.00 |
| 15 Young Adult Programs Attended | $ 180.00 |
| 3,556 Children’s Program Attended | $ 24,892.00 |
| 47 Museum Passes Borrowed | $ 940.00 |
| 526 Computer Use (per hour) | $ 6,312.00 |
| 3,128 Database Searches | $ 62,403.60 |
| 1,910 Reference Assistance | $ 13,370.00 |
| Total Value of Library Use | $ 654,140.75 |
| Total of 2025 Library Operating Budget (excluding capital exp.) | $ 268,732.00 |
| Return on Investment | 243% |
| TOTAL VALUE OF LIBRARY JOY | PRICELESS! |