Library Slightly Increases Fee For Nonresident Card
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Three policy changes were unanimously approved by the Warsaw Community Public Library Board of Trustees Monday, including one increasing library fees for nonresidents.
Residents of the library district support it through taxes. Anyone applying for a WCPL card must show proof of residence within the city of Warsaw or Wayne Township and be at least 5 years old. Resident library cards are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.
The library board must set and charge a fee for a local library card to an Indiana resident who is not a resident of the library district who applies for the cards. The registration fee is reviewed annually, according to board policy.
The nonresident fee by law states the minimum fee that the board may set is the greater of either the library’s district operating fund expenditure per capita in the most recent year or $25. The library is also required by state law to prorate the cost of a library card that is valid for less than a year.
WCPL Director Ann Zydek told the library board Monday, “It’s official. It was online at the state site.” Based on the state’s fee formula, an annual individual fee for a nonresident will increase from $92 to $96; the annual family fee for nonresidents increases from $230 to $240; and the part-year individual fee for a nonresident will increase $1 from $23 to $24.
“And when we’re dealing with a part-year nonresident card, it’s valid for three months after purchase,” Zydek said.
Board Vice President Jill Beehler said, “I think it’s always good to, when you refer to that, always say the state.”
Zydek agreed, as the formula to set the nonresident fees is determined by the state. “All public libraries have to follow this,” she said.
Beehler said, “People think that we make this up ourselves, and we don’t.”
Asked if all libraries in the state have to charge fees to nonresidents of library districts, Zydek said yes.
Barbara Beck, board member, said, “We’re following the formula that the state requires us to follow, so these are not arbitrary numbers.”
The WCPL operating expenditure per capita, according to the 2018 Indiana public library statistics, is $95.68. Rounded up – because they can’t round down – that determines the annual individual fee for a nonresident is $96.
To compare, other counties’ operating expenditures per capita are: Allen County, $78.62; Bell Memorial Public Library, Mentone, $86.43; Bourbon Public Library, $52.08; East Chicago Public Library, $108.41; Elkhart Public Library, $69.94; Fulton County Public Library, $90.32; Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, $49.04; Nappanee Public Library, $125.98; North Manchester Public Library, $167.44; North Webster Community Public Library, $70.99; Pierceton and Washington Township Public Library, $149.02; and Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township Public Library, $64.87.
Another approved policy change was in regard to library employee paid leave.
The policy change allows staff to be paid for a staff development day March 22 where the library was closed; and to be paid for a staff development day on Sept. 13 where the library also is closed.
The library will close at 5 p.m. Nov. 27 and closed completely Nov. 30 with staff unpaid for the hours the library closed early.
The library will close at 4 p.m. Dec. 5 for a staff holiday dinner, with staff paid. It will close at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 with staff unpaid for the early closing time.
The last policy changes involve fines and fees for materials.
An overdue notice indicates an item in use by the borrower and is mailed three days after the due date. Notices will be sent to patrons who have long overdue items. The first policy is that the notices will be sent when items are at least 20 days overdue. Previously, it said 21 days.
Delinquent accounts of $25 or more will be sent to an outside materials recovery agency. Under the old policy, the accounts were sent to the agency 10 to 30 days after the final bill has been sent to the borrower. The change is that now the accounts will be sent 20 days after the final bill has been sent to the borrower.
