Fact Sheet

---

Alpine and the state

• There are 120 public libraries in Utah. [1]
• Alpine is probably the only community of its size in Utah without a public library. [2]

Construction costs

• A suitable full-service library for a community of Alpine’s size is approximately 15,000 sq. ft. @ $200/foot ($3 million). [3]
• Construction costs have risen 44% over the past three years. [4]
• Allowing $500,000 for cost increases by the time construction begins, the cost per household would be approximately $10.16/month over twenty years, or $15.67/month over ten. [5]
• Building just a first phase would reduce the amount of an initial bond, though the cost of subsequent phases would likely rise.

Utah and the nation [6]

• Utah has the highest percentage in the country of households that used a library in the previous year—61.9% (national average 47.6%).
• Utah has the highest percentage of households that used a public library or bookmobile in the previous month 41.5% (national average 30.6%).
• Distance makes a difference.
  Utah is first in the nation among households living less than one mile from a library, second among households less than two miles, and so forth.
• #1 in less than 1 mile: 71.6% (average 51.6%)
• #2 from 1 to 2 miles: 61.9% (average 50%)
• #7 from 3-5 miles: 56.3% (average 47.4%)
• #12 from 6-10 miles: 51.6% (average 40.9)
  

Services

• In addition to book and DVD checkouts, libraries provide high-speed Internet connections, public meeting rooms, and exhibit space; and lectures and traveling exhibits.
• Certified librarians are information specialist who can assist patrons find the reference books, websites, and electronic databases they need.
• While Wikipedia and other information sites contain a lot of valuable information, few primary sources are online.
• You can browse the catalog and reserve the books you want online. Books from other libraries will be delivered to and returned from the Alpine library.

---

[1] Publiclibraries.com/utah.htm.

[2] Allen Roberts, president, Cooper, Roberts, Simonson, and Associates (crsa-us.com).

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Zion’s Bank Public Finance department projection, March 6, 2008.

[6] National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education, 2007 tabulation.