LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Part 2
Maybe this will help. I was at a new school three years ago, and the opening
day collection of 3000 books for secondary cost about $60,000 from Follett.
This did not include videos or research software. It was a very small
school. I was told by one of my university library professors that 20
books/student is a good goal to set for your library.
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Heritage High School opened in the fall of 1999 after years of planning.
I
am the media specialist and have attached a document about library
budget which you might find helpful
Heritage High School Media Center Budget
Allocation of Media Center Funds
Supplies 7170
Equipment (25 computers, 1 photocopy, 1 security gate) 75,179
(not including 2 circulation computers,1 circ printer, or circ software)
Books 170,950
CD’s (SIRS, MAS, Nat. Geographic, Grangers, Current Biography) 5332
Magazines & newspapers 3800
Furniture (not including shelves, circ desk or built-ins) 35,000
Audio Visual equip & supplies (not including circ computer) 104,753
Total
$402,184
Approximate cost of start up books and main suppliers
Average price per high school book hardback in School Library Journal
1999 is $17.76
Follett $125,000
DK Books 563
Marshall Cavendish 7726
Oxford U. Press 2046
Greenhaven (pamphlets) 2771
Grolier 5106
H. W. Wilson 1318
Permabound 15,000
Macmillan 2314
World Book 1735
Recorded Books 605
Powells Bookstore 2000
Other publishers 4766
170,950
Furniture
2 four drawer lateral files - $328 each
1 atlas case – 432
1 dictionary case – 281
2 large computer tables (hold 6 computers each) – 933 each
1 newspaper rack – 375
1 presentation projector – 2000
5 book carts – 150 each
5 adult chairs – 152 each
11 soft chairs – 268 each
100 wood student chairs (Jasper overstuffed) – 117 each
11 rectangular wood tables and 4 square wood tables – 300 each
1 adult desk – 159
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I know that Follett (and probably other major vendors such as Baker and
Taylor) have such information already compiled. They can give you what
should be in a basic collection, and cost. I would contact them
1-800-435-6170
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I'm currently opening a new library in renovated space and was given
$50,000 for new books ($2,000 of which I will spend on videos) for a
Student population of 500 grades 1-5. We have a very old, tired collection
and this will give it a boost!
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So many questions -- sooooo little time. The most important advice I
can give you is to keep those "opening day" collections separate from
your yearly budget numbers!
These are Massachusetts New Schools and as such the state will reimburse
your town for all hardcover books purchased for your new libraries at
the same rate that they are being reimubrsed for the walls and the desks.
In our case that was 70% -- you can buy a lot more books when you are
being reimbursed close to that rate. That should mean that monies for
these books will come from your building committee.
Next -- use the MSLMA Standards of # of books per expected #s of pupils.
Subtract the # of books you estimate that you will carry over into the
new building and multiply by the average cost of a book.
School Library Journal usually has that cost # or estimate that as well.
Estimate high -- you will be cut down later, but tell them what they
really need and go from there.
I was given $200,000 for an Opening Day Collection for 775 students in
Grades 5 and 6.
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I did this in the early 1980's and will be doing again shortly. Ask
For twice as much money as what you really need- you will get cut but it
Will make them feel useful! Include 3M detection system, Winnebago for
computeriation, more clerical help, etc. --overdo it!!!
*******************************
I have spent between 80 and 100K over the past four years updating
The collection at the Galvin Middle School. Still only 10 percent of
The collection has been published in the last ten years. We have a
long ways to go. After extensive weeding, the science, geography, and social
studies areas are the most depleted. The trick is to keep the book budget
high for the long term to bring the entire collection up to current status.
I have given an estimate to my principal by splitting the reference and
Regular book budget because the cost is quite different per volume. Hope
This helps...
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Call Brodart's slaes number - they put together basic collections
For libraries and can give you a "ballpark" figure. ... or you can
use MSLMA's guide that states how many books are need for how many
students and you can multiply by $10 and get a fair estimate. Good luck!
*******************************
Kathryn Blair
Library Media Specialist
Littleton Jr/Sr High School
Littleton, MA
kblair@mv.com
A KidsConnect Volunteer
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