Quote:
Originally Posted by speakingtohe
I don't think the library is recovering 1/2 the cost for most out of state users with $50.
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I doubt they are recovering a reasonable share of fixed costs, such as executive management. And they may not be recovering costs of Random House eBooks purchased under a perpetual license. But the out of state patrons only have to cover marginal costs in order to increase the number of eBooks the library can afford to buy, or help the library in other ways.
The biggest marginal cost attributable to out of state cards could stem from the
Harper-Collins borrowing limit. Every 26 circulations of a Harper-Collins title, the library needs to buy a new Overdrive license, so there is a real cost of a dollar or two for each borrowing. If that cost, plus the cost of administering the out of area program, comes to less than $50, I think patient Philadelphians come out ahead.