[Publib] Re: ILL fees and costs + cost of reference service

[Rebecca Bronson]

Very interesting. I've seen the Florida studies on the value of libraries to
their communities, and this is a nice corollary to that.

Becki
Rebecca Bronson
Reference Librarian
Handley Regional Library
P.O. Box 1300
Stephens City, VA  22655

540-869-9000 (voice)
540-869-9001 (fax)

www.hrl.lib.state.va.us

  -----Original Message-----
  From: yarmando.delaware at gmail.com [mailto:yarmando.delaware at gmail.com]On
Behalf Of Don Yarman
  Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 7:47 AM
  To: Rebecca Bronson
  Cc: PUBLIB (E-mail)
  Subject: Re: [Publib] Re: ILL fees and costs + cost of reference service


  On 6/19/07, Rebecca Bronson <rbronson at hrl.lib.state.va.us> wrote:
  > While we're on the topic, I wonder what the average cost of the average
  > reference transaction would be if you were to factor in staff time, cost
of
  > database(s) and other sources used, etc.

  Nine library systems in southwestern Ohio commissioned an
  economic benefits study of their services late last year.  They
  determined that the value of their reference services (use of
  non-circulating periodicals, use of reference materials, answer
  services, and electronic database use) was $64.6 million in
  2005.  (Note:  that is economic benefit to the community,
  not necessarily the actual costs of delivering the services.)

  More information is at the website http://9libraries.info.
  Details about the reference portion of the study can be found
  on page 13 of the full report (that's the 21st page in the pdf).
  I have pasted the table summarizing the reference value
  for the 9 participating libraries below.

                                   Your most humble and obedient servant,

                                   Don Yarman
                                   yarmando at delawarelibrary.org

        Type of Service

       Value/Use
       Estimated Use


        Non-circulating Periodicals

       $5.00
       259,824
       $1,299,120


       Number
       Cost
       Estimated Use
       Value

        Reference Materials
       16,865
       $1,761,816
       692,731
       $36,183,352


       Answers
       Value/Hr
       Time/Answer
       Value

        Reference Answers
       2.9 Million
       $50
       6 minutes
       $14.3 Million


       Database Cost
       Database Use
       Value/Use
       Value

        Electronic Database
       $1.2 Million
       1.3 Million
       $10.00
       $12.8 Million

        Total Value



       $64.6 Million


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