A Delaware library card offers priceless benefits

Patrons of the Rehoboth Beach Public Library saved almost $2 million last year.

In the year ending June 30, the 7,383 Rehoboth Beach Library card holders borrowed 60,155 books, CDs, audiobooks and DVDs. If they had had to purchase those items instead of borrowing them, the cost would have been more than $1.5 million.

Rehoboth Beach Public Library Treasurer Tom Wontorek said, “The Delaware library card is one of the best-kept secrets that everyone should know about. If you are a Delaware resident or own property in the state, the card will cost you nothing. When you use the card, the benefits to you are priceless.”

The American Library Association places the average purchase price of an item for a library at $25. Each time a card holder borrows an item, he or she saved $25. Since 60,155 items were borrowed at the Rehoboth library, the accumulated savings add up to $1,503,875, which amounts to approximately $203 per card holder.

These numbers do not include e-books card holders borrow to read on their Kindles, Nooks, tablets or PCs. It is more difficult to average those costs, because e-book publishers set the cost for library purchasers at approximately $80 per title. Some publishers also limit how many times an e-book can be borrowed before a new copy is purchased.

In the year ending June 30, Rehoboth library card holders borrowed 18,978 e-book copies, which would add $474,450 to library users’ savings, for a total close to $2 million. The total value to each card holder, including ebooks would be $267 for the year ending June 30.

“The Friends of the Rehoboth Beach Public Library provide the funds we use to maintain and add to our collection. If it was not for the $35,000 to $36,000 we receive annually from the Friends, the library would not have the variety of books, CDs, DVDs and audio books that our patrons borrow,” Wontorek said. “I encourage all residents to become members of and to support the fundraising efforts of the Friends.”

For more information, go to www.rehobothlibrary.org/about-us/friends-of-the-library.html.

Nonresidents may obtain a card, good for one year, for a $25 fee. The card entitles the user to full library privileges. For $10, a visitor's card is good for 30 days.