How much do you save by using the library each month? Jennifer reports a savings of $415 and comments, I love coming to the library. I never thought about how much money I might be saving!

To see how much the library saves you, visit the Library Savings Calculator a program developed by the University of Massachusetts Library Association. The Library Savings Calculator assigns a dollar value to library products, programs and services. Things like books, movies, music, magazines, computers, WiFi, online databases, computer classes, adult and children's programs are included. Simply estimate your usage and the cost savings is calculated for you.

Astonishingly, the highest savings reported so far is $8177.40 per month. I thought this might be a mistake until I recognized the patrons name. Shannon uses the library almost every day and says, "I love to read and the library saves me from having to go out and purchase new books. Also, since I don't have a computer I can come here and check my emails and other stuff." Apparently Shannon is doing just that, to the tune of nearly $100,000 per year!

As fall elections approach, I hope residents appreciate the value libraries bring to our communities. Libraries positively affect the lives of people every single day by providing resources for education and entertainment, quality programs for children and adults, service to schools, daycares and homebound seniors, high tech services and 24/7 WiFi access in all locations. And the library is still delivering service directly from your hometown!

But library service in fourteen locations isn't free. As a result of I-747, Whitman County Library's maintenance and operation levy has dropped over the past 7 years. In November, voters will be asked to restore the library levy to the 2002 level of 50 cents, an increase of just 5.2 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value and about 3 cents per acre on farmland.

The fall ballot will also carry the question of annexation to three Whitman County towns. Voters in Endicott, Farmington and Malden will vote to become official members of the library district to insure they will always have a quality library. Currently, these towns pay a contract fee to bring library service to their residents instead of taxing individual property owners.

As a taxpayer, I've always been glad to pay my library taxes because I know I get my moneys worth. Using the savings calculator, I discovered the library saves me $224 per month. More importantly, the library makes my community a better place for everyone to live, learn and grow. What a great return on my investment!

 

For more information, contact:

Kristie Kirkpatrick at 509-397-4366 or see the Whitman County Library website or the library's new events calendar.