Return on Investment @ the Library

Getting the most for our money is something we all want in every aspect of our lives. We here at the Jefferson County Library would like to share the value you obtained from your library tax dollars this past year:

• 528, 025 books borrowed @ $15 each = $7,920,375
• 14,953 magazines borrowed @ $2 each = $29,906
• 106, 274 movies borrowed @ $4 each = $425, 096
• 69,289 audio books / music borrowed @ $10 each = $692,890
• 2,854 interlibrary loans @ $25 each = $71,350
• 500 meeting room uses @$50 each = $25,000
• 3,420 adult programs / classes attended @ $10 each = $34,200
• 28,211 children's programs attended @ $6 each = $169,266
• 106,080 hours of computer use @ $12/hour = $1,272,960
• 71,432 reference questions asked @ $7 each = $500,024
• Total = $11,141,067

Library taxes collected in 2008 = $3,266,873.92

Savings for Jefferson County Library taxpayers = $7,874,193.08

Return on investment in the Jefferson County Library = 241%

Below are links from the New York Times and the St. Louis Post Dispatch detailing how libraries are seeing rising usage during the current economic crisis:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/nyregion/26libraries.html

http://tiny.cc/rZrzc