Library Policy Changes Go Into Effect July 1
The Library begins a new fiscal year on July 1, and with it comes several policy changes that will affect some patrons. We want to give everyone a heads up in June about these coming changes, which the Library Board of Trustees approved April 27.
- Beginning July 1, the annual fee for a non-resident of Greene County library card will increase from $50 to $65 annually.
This change will affect about 2,900 households outside of Greene County that have non-resident memberships. The increase will go into effect with each individual household membership’s renewal date.
The cost is changing, but not the benefits: Each non-resident membership entitles all family members living there to have their own card and enjoy all the Library’s checkout privileges and services. Currently, some 5,400 non-resident children, teens and adults have cards through those 2,900 non-resident household memberships.
Why the increase? The average Greene County household pays $65 in property tax to support the district. The Library seeks only to ask non-residents who enjoy the benefits to pay the same amount.
The last fee increase was in 2003, when the cost went from $30 to $50. That fee has roughly kept pace with what an average Greene County household pays in property tax to support the Library. Property tax bills have grown over the years; today $65 represents the average Greene County household’s tax bill that supports the library district.
- The Library will begin charging $10 for staff to provide test proctoring for patrons. High school students age 17 and under, and active military personnel are exempt.
The Library historically has not charged for this service. The $10 fee remains competitive in the Springfield-Greene County market. All other practices regarding test proctoring will remain the same.
- Patrons owing $10 or more in library fines/fees will be restricted from using the Library’s public (Internet) computers. Minors age 17 and younger are exempt.
Previously, patrons were restricted from using the public computers once they reached $50 in fines/fees. Lowering the maximum cap to $10 is consistent with the cap for all other borrowed materials.
Please feel free to talk to a staff member or to Associate Director Jim Schmidt if you have any questions or concerns. He can be reached at 616-0587, or jims@thelibrary.org.
Find this article at http://thelibrary.org/blogs/article.cfm?aid=1923