Library Users, Would You Pay a Fee?

[RitaE]

Well in this area any increase in Property Tax line items has to be approved by Voter Referendum ... so the library adding a fee on top of Property Taxes would basically be a method of trying to circumvent voter approval.

Our library has been slammed the past couple of years - not by decreasing budgets because our taxes haven't decreased one bit. They're being hit with massive increases in use as people who used to buy their own books have moved to the library in order to manage their own budgets.

It used to be that I could go up to the library on a Tuesday afternoon and almost have the place to myself. That never happens anymore and last week I went up there one evening and couldn't even find a parking place.

 

[MIGrandma]

um, don't I already pay a fee?

The Library District line item on my Property Tax bill sure implies that I do.

Yes, it's called "taxes" and I already pay them plenty!

No, I'm not talking about property taxes.

I'm talking about the libraries charging everyone who uses the library (borrowing books, DVD's, etc.) an extra $50 fee per year to use it.

We don't have the choice in not paying our property taxes, but we do have a choice concerning the added fee. That is why I asked if people would be willing to pay it.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Yes, I would pay an annual fee. But $50 is kind of steep if for individual, more reasonable if for entire family.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I would pay if that meant that the homeless that live in and around my local library would be taken care of and given bribes to leave. Or help, or something. It is too scary to go there now.

 

[Praying Colonel]

DW works in a branch library. I've learned from her that different places fund their libraries in different ways. Where we live, there is no separate tax or district for library spending. There was a voter referendum on establishing a library tax district that would be funded by an occupational tax. A maverick businessman waged a campaign against it, promising to propose a plan to fund our libraries after the tax was defeated. People bought his line and, of course, we're almost 2 years post-vote and we're still waiting for his plan.

So it's tough times for the library where we live. Library funding comes from the general budget and since the general budget is down due to the economy, library funding is down and it is difficult for them to meet their mission to the community with the resources they have available.

 

[bicker]

I would pay if that meant that...

This doesn't make sense to me... the reason why a fee would be applied is because the current operations already cost so much that the fee is needed. Imposing the requirements for how the additional fees would be used would just leave the library in the same bad predicament.

 

[zigzagzerr]

I would definitely pay it! Our library system is fantastic and we use it all the time.

 

[mjkacmom]

Funding for libraries is being seriously cut here in NJ. I did sign a petition, but I don't think it will do much good. Would I pay a fee? Absolutely! I can't remember the last time I bought a book, or rented a movie. I can just go online and order one, and if my library doesn't have it, another library in our system will. It's a 3 minute drive from my house.

I read several books each month. Plus, they do offer many free programs.

 

[NotUrsula]

OK, Bicker, I know I'll regret this, but I've got to ask ... what do you see as "essential services"?

I confess I'm particularly interested in the ones that we could restore to "1950's levels" in order to somehow save money.

(I have a strong hunch that the list you will give me will still include the largest line items in my collections budget.)

 

[chicagoshannon]

Absolutely NOT! We already pay a TON of money towards the library in our property taxes. If they would not charge the property tax for the library I would absolutely pay the fee.

 

[bicker]

OK, Bicker, I know I'll regret this, but I've got to ask ... what do you see as "essential services"?

I don't have time or the inclination to post a full list. Why not ask me about specific things, with regard to whether I think they're essential or not. That would be easier.

 

[Imzadi]

$50 per year. Would you pay that?

I might pay up to $20/year, but $50 seems like a lot.

Yes, I would definitely pay $50. I get so much out of our library services. I'd also pay for it knowing it was helping less forunate families who can't afford new or used books and rely on libraries.

If you look at how much books cost at the store, $20 would hardly cover 3 paperbacks. Used books, if bought online with a $4 shipping fee from Amazon & sometimes eBay, would be about 5 books, IF you happen to get one going for $1.

The year after I started reading fiction again, I logged all the books I read during the year. Almost all of them were from the library. It came to a whopping $379. A $50 fee is a drop in the bucket in comparison.

Now, I've switched to eBooks. My library has many of the newest bestsellers. I rarely have to make a trip in to an actual branch any more. I can just download the books, at will, on line.

To tell the truth, I have paid more than $50 in overdue fines in the past twelve months. We use our library system all the time,

Me too. My library raised their overdue fines from $0.10 to $0.25. If I happen to check out 4 books at once and don't make it back to the library for a week after they are due, that's $1 per day in fines. 7 days overdue is $7. Ouch! As much as I hate paying it, I also know the money goes back to helping the library, so I don't mind it so much.

 

[bicker]

Absolutely NOT! We already pay a TON of money towards the library in our property taxes. If they would not charge the property tax for the library I would absolutely pay the fee.

Taking away their current revenue source falls into the same category as the previous poster's statement that added fees would be okay if they were directed toward specific new expenses -- it leaves the library in the same budgetary predicament they're in now.

 

[NotUrsula]

I don't have time or the inclination to post a full list. Why not ask me about specific things, with regard to whether I think they're essential or not. That would be easier.

Because due to your opinions on what you deem to be the "fat" in public library budgets, I'm curious about your grasp of the reality of what these programs cost, relative to the average budget as a whole.

Besides that, the average public library system offers hundreds of products/services, and I'm sure that there are not hundreds on your hit list, so it would be a lot less work for you to tell me what things you think are most essential, rather than for me to list every line item in a library system budget. I'm not trying to make this onerous; it's merely an exercise -- how 'bout you give us your top 10, or even top 5?

 

[bicker]

I think you think I have specific "targets". I don't. If I had a list of specific targets, I'd be happy to give it to you. Rather, my comments were categorical: "Non-essential" services. That's my target. Period. I gave you three good examples.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We are avid readers and use the library at least twice each week. I would hope that our library services remain free, but if there were a charge to get a library cards we'd pay.

 

[Handbag Lady]

This doesn't make sense to me... the reason why a fee would be applied is because the current operations already cost so much that the fee is needed. Imposing the requirements for how the additional fees would be used would just leave the library in the same bad predicament.

Oh, I see. What I am saying is that I would be happy to pay whatever it takes to make my nearest library seem safer and less scary. If that means giving more money for the library to handle current conditions and then MORE money for the safety issue, then I am so there. I LOVE visiting libraries but I do not currently because of the mentioned situation.

 

[bicker]

Understood... thanks for the clarification.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

I would. Between myself, DH, and DD, I am at the library all the time. (It's also a block away.) They loan DVDs for free too, including the newest releases. We don't pay a dime for movie rentals or books and I'm a big reader. Our library saves us $100s each year.

 

[Janet Hill]

I'd be happy to pay a fee, as long as they agree to no longer receive revenues from taxes.