Bringing home the value of libraries

I'm a card-carrying librarian, so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for me to make statements about the public benefits of libraries. The challenge, as with many things, is how to make a statement meaningful to others and get them to see the value. What if we could quantify the benefits in dollars and cents? Would that make advocating for the Takoma Park Maryland Library a little easier next budget season?

Typically measuring public benefits is a fuzzy math calculation backed up with qualitative, rather than quantitative, data. While verbal and written testimony can make an impression on city and county government officials, in the end its numbers and formulas that make up the bulk of budget proposals.

Fortunately some good soul has developed an online tool to help the rest of us understand what we're getting in exchange for our tax dollars. The Library Value Calculator, developed last year by Luke Charde for the Troy Public Library in New York, not only can be used on his site, but can be downloaded and added to any library website. Mr. Charde is providing this tool free of charge through a Creative Commons license as a public good; another benefit. Creative Commons licenses provide alternatives to the "all rights reserved" restrictions of U.S. copyright laws.

Give it a try and see what kind of monetary value having access to a public library can provide to you. You may be surprised, and hopefully in a positive way. If so, let your new-found appreciation carry you over to the library and pick up some choices for summer reading. Tell the librarians how much you appreciate their service, and don't forget about the library next spring during budget season.