How much money the library saved me in 2009
January 25, 2010
In late 2008 I wrote a post about how much money the library had saved me that year. Personal finance and saving money was a hot, hot topic at the time. Everyone was looking for money-saving tips and mine was to use to the library. Use it lots. Make it your BFF.
People frequently forget how they can save money by using the library and I have heard many, many reasons why people don’t use their library. The main one always seems to be, “But I return books late and they charge me fees!” It’s true, they do charge you fees if you return your books late. At my library I am charged $0.25 per day for late items, unless it is an express loan item in which case I get charged $1 per day. Let’s say I checked out a book that costs $10. If it’s a regular loan I would have to return it 40 days late to rack up $10 in late fees. If you are returning a book 40 days late I don’t think the library is really your problem.
I do sometimes return books late. I’d guess that in the past year I’ve racked up about $3 in late fees. When I lived in Toronto the library was only two blocks away from my apartment and I used to go a couple of times a week. (I always seemed to go on garbage day and get stuck walking behind the very stinky garbage truck – I have bad timing.) Now we try to limit it to one day a week and/or as often as we need to go to return books on time.Yes, sometimes this means that we go to the library when it’s not the most convenient for us but if we’re just dropping off books we can be in and out in under two minutes. Even less if we use the drop box outside. Because we’ve made the library a priority it’s part of our routine.
Until very recently we also had a library shelf where we piled all of our library books. The shelf has since been taken over with other stuff but we’re working on a new location. By piling all of our books, cds and magazines in one spot when we aren’t using them we never have to tear the house apart looking for them. This wasn’t always the case. I once remember not being able to find a library book only to discover it in my library basket. What was it doing there? I have no idea but that’s pretty much when I started putting all my books in one location.
So how do keep track of library books and come up with my number? I’ve been keeping a spreadsheet of books that I read for several years now. In 2008 I just added a “source” column and add in “library” or “own” or “borrowed” whenever I’m entering the book. I also added a column for the price of the book.
Now, this is where you could argue with me about cost. I use the Canadian cover price of the book (Canadian cover prices are usually higher than American cover prices and yeah, as a Canadian who likes to buy books it does suck). Yes, I could (and frequently do) pay less than the cover price of most books that I buy. I imagine that most frequent readers do. Not everyone does though. Some casual readers who don’t want to hunt around for a better price, impulse buyers, or people who shop at independent bookstores, still often pay full price. Also, if I was going with a discounted price what discounted price should I use? They change all the time. Would I look around for different sales and find the best one? Or make an average of them? And what if I find the best deal in USD, would I then have to convert it to CAD? For it work, yes. Honestly, it’s all too darned confusing. Cover price is just plain easier all the way around.
I don’t track books I don’t finish so they aren’t included here. Ditto magazine, CDs, and DVDs or anything that my husband checks out of the library. I also don’t track cookbooks or knitting pattern books that I check out, which to be honest I probably should because the library saves me money there. I used to have an issue with buying cookbooks and then not using them so I started checking most of them out from the library before I bought them. I’ve been able to weed out ones that aren’t worth buying and some that are. Very useful and it makes me feel thrifty. And I’m not even beginning to touch the other services that libraries offer – internet usage, courses, story-time for children, homework programs. The list could just go on and on.
I only track books that I finish. When I’m making my list and figuring out the cost I stick to the format that I read it in. If it was an audio book I price what it would cost. If it’s a hardcover I don’t take the paperback price. So how much did I save last year?
In 2009 I read $1,239.27 worth of books from the library.
Now, I’m a fairly heavy reader but that was a light library year for me. Yes, really. If you look at my 2008 post I had read $1,128.27 worth of books between March and October. (I wasn’t using the library before March of that year and the post was published November 1.) I was using the library more heavily during that time for a number of reasons, one being that I had a lot more time since I wasn’t working. Another was that the bulk of that time I was living in a new city and hardly knew anyone. In 2009 I read more books than 2008 overall but fewer of them came from the library. I read a lot of free e-books from Manybooks.net on my Sony Reader and iPhone. Since I was working again I also bought more books than I had the year before. But still, $1,239.27 is nothing to sneeze at. That’s a vacation or a few long weekends away for us. Or a big chunk into our savings account.
Yes, I am a heavy reader by many people’s standards. For a minute let’s pretend I’m not. Let’s pretend I’m a one book a month person and that I normally buy my books. An adult fiction trade paperback in Canada will usually run you anywhere between $15-20 so let’s take $17.50 for an average. At one book a month that’s $210 over the course of a year. If my library charged me $0.25 per day for late fees I’d have to check in my books a collective amount of 840 days to match that amount. If I don’t return any books late at all I would have an extra $210 in my pocket. I can think of a few things to with an extra $210, can’t you? I know people who have to pay to belong to a library, but even as much as a $100 membership will leave you with just over $100 in your pocket at the end of the year.
Libraries have given me some pretty awesome gifts. Since I started using the library regularly again in 2004 my reading has expanded. When I lived across the street from a library in 2005 this blog started. Through this blog I’ve met and connected with so many wonderful people that my mind kind of reels if I think about it too long.
The truth is, I’d use the library even if it didn’t save me a bundle of money each year, if it hadn’t given me wonderful gifts like friends and an online community. I love libraries. I think they are a truly invaluable part of our community. So if you haven’t visited yours in awhile maybe you could give it another try?
January 25th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Great post!! I need to look into trying to make better use of the library at work since I know the one in my home town isn’t really all that stocked with English books. At least not recent ones. And if I do, I am totally adding a cost column!!
kit-cat´s last blog ..Rambling Reader: The Best YA Books You Haven’t Read
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 10:29 am
One of the ills of living in a French-speaking province. But the one at work does have *some* YA. Actually, I originally borrowed the first three Harry Potters from there (and then promptly had to buy them when I had money again).
[Reply]
January 25th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
what a neat idea to track your savings this way. You did good!!
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Not bad! It’s interesting to look at and it reminds me that, no matter how much I am using the library, I should use it more.
[Reply]
January 25th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Wow, that’s great! I haven’t used the library in a while, but I am hoping to jump back into it for some of the reading circuits I’m doing- the Classics one and the Spotlight Series in particular.
Aarti´s last blog ..Review: The Help
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 10:32 am
The library is great for classics. And once you get into the groove of using it, and especially using the online catalogue if your library has one, the more you do use it.
[Reply]
January 25th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
At a conservative guess, I would say that I have saved around $2500AU by using my library. I read 127 books out of my library, mostly hardcover, but some paperback so I assigned a value of $20 per book, but I think that is probably understating the value!
I love my library and can’t imagine not using it all the time!
Marg´s last blog ..Alphabet in Historical Fiction: D is for Donati
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 10:35 am
I can’t imagine not using the library either and wow, that’s a lot of library books!
[Reply]
January 25th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I love my library too. I have no idea how much I save though. I do know that they have books I’d never find at the bookstore.
Chrisbookarama´s last blog ..Giveaway! Reading Glasses Shopper
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 10:36 am
That is an excellent point Chris. The library is often a good way to get your hands on those out of print or out of stock books that peak our interest.
[Reply]
January 25th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Last year, 56 of the 146 books I read were from the library. That’s 38 percent! 47 of the books were ARCs or review copies — another 32 percent. That means that only 30 percent of the books that came into the house were bought by me or received as gifts. That is rather amazing for me because just a couple of years ago, I bought or received 100 percent of the books I read.
I started really using the library again about two years ago and I can’t believe I just didn’t consider it for so long. I heard recently that my county library system is something like the third largest in the U.S. They have about 90 percent of the books I’m looking for and I don’t even make use of resources like movies, music or magazines yet!
Kristen M.´s last blog .."We called him the Professor."
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Hmm I never thought to break it down by percent… *goes away to look at spreadsheets and do math* 54% of the books I read last year were from the library.
I find the library is a great source for older movies. And documentaries. Our local movie rental place doesn’t get in very many documentaries.
[Reply]
January 26th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Whoa! I love seeing actual figures to go along with this. I buy far less than I used to, and I *heart* my library. I should add up my savings sometime! Every little bit counts.
Andi´s last blog ..Dragging Out Emma…
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 9:50 am
You should add it up. If you already track your reading it’s really easy to do.
[Reply]
January 27th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Luckily, I work at a library so I can easily check the status of my checkouts and keep track of when things are due back. But I am not immune to the ‘I swear I brought that book back’ syndrome. Last year I checked out a copy of Midnight’s Children. (which I never did get around to reading) I looked all over my house for it, could not find it, and figured that I had brought it back in with other returned library books. A couple weeks ago, I was on my hands and knees in the bedroom, looking for a spare hair elastic (my cats like to play with them) when my eye glanced on a book laying way back in my nightstand shelf – yup, Midnight’s Children!
I always tell people who swear they’ve brought a book back to the library but it’s not on our shelf to keep an open mind, they do sometimes turn up at home (or in the car) months later!
And regarding saving money, our library has a widget on the home page where people can calculate out how much the library saves them, based on books, magazines, movies, etc. It’s really amazing how much even light library-users can save! And even more so now in these budget-conscious times.
Lesley´s last blog ..Love Thy Neighbor
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 9:52 am
I track my due dates online but sometimes we just don’t get to the library on time. Or I haven’t quite finished the book before it’s due date and I can’t renew it so I take the fine on purpose so I can finish it.
And yep, I’ve been known to swear that I returned the book only to find it under my couch three hours later. Oops.
I’ve seen some of the calculators. If you click on the link to the 2008 post I believe I linked to a couple of them.
[Reply]
January 27th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
last year i did a use-the-library challenge and over half of the 94 books i read were from the library. i love that you figured out total savings though – i’m not sure i have the time to go back and calculate but i bet it would be lots of fun!!!!!!!
phyllis´s last blog ..A Proud Ima Moment
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 9:53 am
You could do what Marg did and take an average price per book. In her case she took $20. So by that if 50 of your 94 books were from the library you’re looking at $1000.
[Reply]
January 31st, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I love the local library and so does my son! Having an online catalog does help matters in that I can request what I want & have it delivired to my branch, get an email telling me it’s ready, renew online, etc. We save tons of money on DVDs by using the library too. I definitely think I will have to add up my savings!
Elizabeth´s last blog ..Fingerprint Friday
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 9:54 am
I honestly don’t know that I’d use the library quite as much if I didn’t use the online catalogue. I hardly browse the shelves anymore, well…except the cookbook shelves. Mostly because I request so many books that they keep me more than busy. But I also just browse the shelves virtually now instead of in person.
I’m on a library DVD kick right now and I’m debating whether or not to track those this year.
[Reply]
January 31st, 2010 at 1:39 pm
You are AWESOME! That’s an excellent way to point out the value of the public library and I hope everyone takes note! Thanks for a great post.
Tiny Librarian´s last blog ..Unsung YA Heroes
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 9:55 am
My city’s library usage last year was, I believe, a record year for them. I think that with the economy being what it was lots of people suddenly remembered that it exists.
[Reply]
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Impressive! I don’t use the library as much as I should, so thanks for the reminder as to why I need to visit my local library soon!
Stephanie´s last blog ..Post by Email Wrapup
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Always happy to remind people to use the library.
[Reply]
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Oops, I just realized that I used my old blog URL when I commented!
[Reply]
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:34 am
I wish more people would keep track of how much they’re saving when they use the library and be more vocal when it comes to cutting the library’s budget!
One patron mentioned that he was going to keep track of the monetary amount of what he borrows in the calender year and donate 10% of it back to the library foundation.
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
I only started tracking it fairly recently. It’s really easy for me to do since I track what I read anyway.
I do like the idea of donating 10% to the library foundation. I like that idea a lot. Resolving to do that!
[Reply]
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:57 am
This is a good post overall, but it assumes (like many of these “how good the library is” posts often do) that you have a library with a good selection of books and media. That is not always the case. My local public library suffers from a serious lack of good, current selections. They barely know what a graphic novel is, and their media holdings are embarrassing to say the least. I honestly want to know where some of those people who claim they get movies at the public library instead of Netflix or their local store live because I know it is not here. Add to it living in a very “red” (read right wing, Christian extremist community) where the collections have been pretty much “sanitized” (if you want O’Reilly and Ann Coulter books, you are in luck. Otherwise, you take your chances), and it is not exactly conducive to using your library. When I lived in another big city I could get a lot of things from the public library system, and if they did not have it, they would get it from me (either from a different branch or ILL). Not much of that here, and the yokels seems fine with that. So, I am all for using your local library, and I would use mine more, but you have to have something in the library people (other than the crotchety old ladies and the paranoid right wingers who want “proof” Obama is not American…I kid you not) actually want.
Dances With Books´s last blog ..Being surrounded by those who lack compassion
[Reply]
sassymonkey Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I’ve lived in different library systems and no, they certainly are not all equal. I doubt that the library in my hometown has much in the line of DVDs and movies (but I may just have to check the next time I go to visit).
I don’t know much about how public libraries make buying decisions (perhaps a librarian that pops in here might speak to that or you could ask the librarian at your library). I strongly suspect though that many decisions are made based on usership. If you don’t use the library at all you can’t influence that.
If your library is lacking you could try something like BookMooch or BookSwim. Neither option is free (you have to pay for shipping in BookMooch) but both may be cheaper than purchasing for you.
[Reply]
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Even if you don’t want to keep track of your own reading or movie use, try out the Library Use Value Calculator: http://www.maine.gov/msl/services/calculator.htm
It estimates, in addition to what you borrow, the cost of the services that libraries provide for free.
[Reply]
February 24th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
[...] “How much money the Library saved me in 2009” and the.effing.librarian’s rebuttal “Last Year the Library cost me [...]