Value of book borrowing from public libraries: user perceptions

Abstract

Reports results of a study aimed at measuring the value of public libraries services by estimating the value of book loans, based on the value placed by library users on the books read. Users returning books to four public libraries were interviewed over a period of four weeks (July and August 2000) at a time when books were being returned and the users had read and derived value from reading them. The users were asked to place a monetary estimate on their reading experience. While the wording of the questions was refined through a small pilot survey conducted at Loughborough Public Library, the main study was conducted at three other medium-sized public libraries, Bedford, Hinckley and Rugby, chosen because they were large enough to offer a range of services but not large enough to provide the specialist facilities which can attract an unrepresentative clientele. Results obtained from the 557 users returning books in the four public libraries showed that a loan of either fiction or non-fiction books was valued at 30-50 pence, while less than 50 per cent of users put the value above 50 pence and very few were willing to place a value of over £1. The total estimate was approximately 7-8 per cent of the average purchase price of books currently bought in libraries. Concludes that the study confirmed that readers do derive value from borrowing both fiction and non-fiction books and that they are able to make some estimate of that value in money terms based on the purpose for which they were borrowed and the benefit they obtained.