What a Rip-Off?

Every week new patrons come into the library to sign-up for library cards. We are always happy to issue new cards to people. After all, that's why we are here - to provide books, and other library materials to you for your use and to make more of them accessible to you at a more affordable price. But, as with everything in life, it is still not free.

Each department in the library buys thousands of dollars worth of books every year. While our funds are limited that adds up to a lot of books for you and your family. But where does the money to buy all of these books, movies, and CDs come from? Where does the money come from to keep the library doors open 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday and from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday? How do we afford to keep our computers in working order after so many hours of constant use? And how do we fund the library programs made available to children as well as adults? That's where city taxes come in. Every homeowner in Brigham City pays a certain amount into the library based on the value of his/her home and/or land. Those that rent can be sure that the owners of their buildings pay this same property tax, giving their tenants the right to use the library as well. Similarly, business owners within the city limits pay these taxes too. This makes it possible for these individuals and their families to get library cards simply by coming into the library with picture I.D. and proof of their Brigham City (home, apartment, business, or land) address.

So if all of the people within the city limits are automatically covered by their tax dollars, what about the people out side of the the Brigham City limits? Should we allow everyone else who walks into the library to take out materials that have been paid for by Brigham City taxes without paying into the library as well? Some people would say yes, but in all fairness the library cannot allow this.

To allow non-residents of Brigham City to use Brigham City Library services the Library Board establishes a non-resident fee at the beginning of every year. This fee is made to match what the average home owner in Brigham City would be paying for the same services. For 2007 this fee was established as $60 per household. It may sound like a lot, but take a minute to think about how much $60 really is when spread over one year. For this $60 you will be getting 12 months of unlimited library service, so long as you keep you account free of overdue or damaged items and overdue fines. In other words, all you have to do to keep your account in good standing is to return the items you check out (including all parts associated with that item) on time and without damage.

Other libraries do the same. Before our Library Board adjusted our non-resident fee for this year they looked at what other libraries were currently charging as of the end of 2006. If you want to drive to Logan you will be paying $157.00 for library service. Provo was $100.00, Salt Lake City and County were both $80.00. North Logan does not even offer the option of obtaining a non-resident card. A little closer to many of the people on the outskirts of Brigham City would be Weber County at a mere $18.00. If the amount the Brigham City Library has to charge is too high; why not make the short drive to Ogden at $2.50 or more per gallon.

Residents of Box Elder County, but not of Brigham City, often ask what the library tax on their county taxes is. Those monies go to the Box Elder County Bookmobile, not the Brigham City Library. The Bookmobile makes stops throughout the county and they give us schedules to pass out to patrons that just learn about them when they visit us. Schedules are available at the front desk at the Brigham City Library or you can call the Bookmobile office at 723-2261.

Resources are available to everyone, but if one person has to pay, shouldn't everyone? It's unfortunate when staff hear parents telling their children "The library won't let you take books," this may be a half- truth. The library is happy to let anyone check out, if they contribute a fair amount into maintaining the services they are using.

Is $60 really that outrageous? For one full year the $60 breaks down to $5 per month. How many books do you check out every month? In most cases, if you check out one item per month you've made use of your investment. Most of our non-resident patrons check out much more than that per month. Consider the rising cost of books. Even when you by a paperback at a discount store you usually wouldn't even be able to buy even 2 paperback books for $5. $7.99 is a pretty average price for an adult paperback right now. If the store gave it to you for a 40% discount you will still be paying $4.79 plus tax for that book. If you want a hardcover try a price range any where between $15 - $30 or even more depending on the type of book and its size. You pick the book and you do the math. They add up in a hurry. And when I think of the price I pay to go the movies or the theatre I am even more appreciative for the low cost services that the library provides. Many taxpayers and non-residents pay into the library gladly, because of how much it does provide to enrich the lives of themselves and their families.

Many people still decide to just buy their books rather than pay $60 for library service. And if they prefer to, that's fine. I love buying my own books too, I love collecting the books I enjoy. But there is no way that I can buy every book I want to read. I just can't afford it. The library makes the world of books much more accessible to me. If the library doesn't have an item I want, I can request that they purchase it. If they can't purchase it, for whatever reason, I can then pay $2.50 to make a request for an inter-library loan. The library may not be able to bring in every item I want that way, but I've gotten a lot of items I could not afford to buy myself, by just paying $2.50 for an inter-library loan. I still buy a lot of my own books every year, and I know I spend much more than $60 each year even though I always wait for big sales either in a store or online. But the library is like an extension of my own collection as well as an extension of your own collection. We have access to so much more because of its existence and because of all the taxpayers and non-residents who join together to support a public service institution that serves to educate as well as entertain.

Elizabeth