Public Library Offers a Strong Return on Taxpayer Investment

The San Marino Public Library enhances the overall quality of life in San Marino, that’s true. But is the Library’s contribution entirely abstract? Can taxpayers’ return on investment in the Public Library be quantitatively measured, preferably in terms of cold, hard cash?

The answer is assuredly, yes.

First the Library purchases books and materials that it lends to users at no charge. In 2005, the Library bought over 3800 books, many of which were paid for by revenue generated by the Used Book Shoppe, run by volunteer Friends of the San Marino Public Library. If you consider that each of these books cost approximately $25 and circulated an average of 10 times, the Library saved its customers almost one million dollars last year on book costs alone.

The Pasadena FedEx Kinko’s charges between $15 and $24 per hour to use its computers. Library patrons use ours for free, often to find housing or employment. Last year, library users logged almost 5400 hours on our public access computers, This adds up to an over $150,000 annual value for our local populace. What is the value of having access to a Library computer and printer when yours is broken? Priceless.

Our patrons take advantage of the Library’s subscription to ValueLine, which they use to augment their personal fortunes while saving $850 each in annual subscription costs. They also consult our Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and Consumer Reports to enhance and preserve their capital holdings. Local business people use our California Manufacturers Register, the Directory of California Wholesalers and Service Companies, and the Million Dollar Directory to find company information that would otherwise cost them hundreds of dollars.

The Library also subscribes to twelve online databases, including full-text magazine and newspaper indexes that users can access from their homes and offices. Our customers not only save time, they save themselves the cost of photocopying!

Finally, the San Marino Public Library generates revenue, not only from fees collected and used books sold, but also in terms of investments from individuals. The Library has attracted nearly seven million in private sector pledges toward the construction of a public, government building, the first in San Marino in over fifty years. These private monies will benefit the whole community, generating substantial educational and financial returns for all San Marinans for decades to come. By any measure, that’s a generous return on investment!

It’s Not Too Late To “Laugh It Up @ Your Library”

The “Laugh It Up @ Your Library” reading program began on March 1st, but it is not too late to sign up. Come to the San Marino Public Library and pick up your registration packet, which includes a reading log, bookmark and some funny handouts. To successful complete the program children are required to check out and read 10 funny books. Once done, bring the completed reading log back to the library to receive your awards, which includes an invitation to “Baby Bebop’s Big Show” presented by Franklin Haynes Marionettes on Saturday, April 1st at 2:00 p.m.

Tournament of Roses Princesses to Visit the Library

On Saturday, March 18th at 2:00 p.m. Princesses Michelle Corral, Carolyn Loo, & Eliza Walper will visit the public library as part of our annual “Royal Tea & Storytime”. They will enchant children with royal stories and tales, answer questions from the audience, and pose for photographs. Light refreshments will be served. Please call (626)300-0777 to reserve your space. Don’t forget to bring your cameras.

Pajama Storytime

Children of all ages and their families are invited to the San Marino Public Library on Monday, March 20th at 7:00 p.m. for an evening of stories, crafts and family fun!!! Don’t forget to wear your pajamas.

Tax Forms at the Public Library

April 15 is getting closer, and once again this year, the San Marino Public Library has many of the basic state and federal tax forms and instructions available for no charge. If you need specialized materials that the Library does not have, the reference staff can help you print most forms and instructions from the Internet for ten cents a page. While we cannot tell you which forms you need to use, we can help you track down the ones you identify.

If you have the resources for accessing the Internet on your own, the website for IRS forms is http://www.irs.gov/formspubs and you click on “form and instruction number”. For California state tax forms, go to http://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms and click on “current year forms” to find the one you want. Call the Library if you have any trouble getting the forms and instructions you need.