[Publib] Michigan library doesn't have to provide service

[Cathy L. Reeves]

We charge $25.00 for an out of state individual per year. A Kansas resident
with proof of residency receives the first card free, rest are $5.00 each
(some have lost theirs several times and hand over the $5.00 without batting
an eye.)

 

Cathy Reeves, Director

Dodge City Public Library

Dodge City KS

cathyr at trails.net

  _____  

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Wendy Cornelisen
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 4:19 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Michigan library doesn't have to provide service

 

An interesting article in Library Journal about a court case in Michigan:

 

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6463871.html

 

"....Bloomfield Hills resident George Goldstone wanted to pay $54 for a
non-resident family library card from the township library, but was rebuffed
since the library responded, as noted in its Q
<http://www.metronet.lib.mi.us/BLFD/pdf/BTPL%20QA%20-Updated%204-7-07.doc>
&A, that families pay about $400 a year."

 

While I agree to a certain extent  with the Michigan Library Association's
postion that expensive, individual library cards could "transform libraries
into essentially private book rental repositories for those able to purchase
a card", I don't see the harm in offering a non-resident account option. 

 

As long as the non-resident fee is comparable, isn't it a good way to
increase revenue for a public library? Perhaps a single card, rather than a
family account, for the per capita funding rate of $132 that the township
spends. 

 

The library where I work charges a $40 non resident fee to indivduals for 12
months of access. 

 

Wendy Cornelisen 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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