$67.87: what makes 29th in expenditure rank #1 in quality.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/03/26/Book_values/

The Globe ran this as a graph last week, and compiled it from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners' website. It looked better in the bar chart print version of the Globe, but what it is showing us is the per capita dollar spent by each town on its library.

The Dover Town Library ranks 29th for per capita expenditures in the state, but it's the top library for its size in the state. (The top of the range is $192.90--in Chilmark--which is quite a bit higher than $67.87) This tells us a couple of things: first of all, your tax dollars are getting VERY good value at the Dover Town Library. Second, your Library is making excellent use of its resources--you're getting a lot of bang for your buck. You can thank the staff, Director and Trustees for those advantages. And you should go to Town Meeting on the first Monday in May to support the Library's lines in the municipal budget.

The other thing that comes to mind when looking at statistics like these is the value--monetary and otherwise--contributed to the town through community involvement: by a strong Friends of the Library organization. This is where your support can make the biggest difference. Membership in the Friends is an easy way to support one of the best institutions in town, from the inside out.

Together, through civic engagement and private support, we've made the Dover Town Library a first-quality institution, at a remarkably lean cost. It pains me to say this, but it looks like your hard-earned dollars do better at the Library than they do in the Dow!