Philosophy
As a municipal official (selectman) and taxpayer, I often wonder why government evenly distributes taxes when there are clearly ways to lower the burden across the general tax base by charging fees for services that are used by specific groups. Take into consideration the following example:
Public libraries have been in existence for thousands of years, but for the purposes of this article, let's start with the year 1731, when Benjamin Franklin began a subscription library as a means of sharing thousands of books. Members needed to either purchase stock in the library (which was setup as a company) or become a member -- for about $5.
By 1833, Peterborough, New Hampshire, began to use tax revenue to purchase books for a publicly owned library, free to all residents. In 1854, the Boston Public Library became what is widely known as the first real public library, and more than 20 years later, the Dewey decimal system was brought into use.
In the early 20th century, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated $50 million to build 1,700 libraries in the United States. There are now more than 9,000 public libraries, not including branches. Around 85 percent of library funding comes from federal, state, and local taxes. The majority (90 percent or more) of that comes from local property taxes.
As a constant user and supporter of my town library, I am grateful for the access to the thousands of books, newspapers, and periodicals available within the library system. But I also have trouble understanding how the public library system has essentially undergone no fundamental change in the last century.
In the last 100 years, the cost of a new book has gone from 10 cents to $30, but anyone with a library card can rent that same book for free.
At a time where the tax burden can often be onerous, doesn't it make sense to ask library users to pay a nominal fee for a book rental? When municipal budgets are tightened, almost universally the library is left to hang by a thread. Amazingly, when library usage is at an all-time high, I read about library closings every week across this country.
But I never hear any politician or citizen's group recommending a rental fee to support the library.
Why do libraries get the short end of the stick? For a multitude of reasons, but primarily due to changes in how people have been gathering since technologies like radio and TV came on the scene. Prior to their introduction, libraries were a community gathering place. That's no longer the case, and in today's computer-based home environment, the majority of taxpayers in a municipality do not use the public library.
Does that mean we shouldn't offer the service to the community? Of course not. Instead, the municipal government should give baseline funding to the library, with the remaining funding coming from operational revenue.
In my town, more than 600,000 items were borrowed in 2010. Just a 50 cent fee on each item would add $300,000 to the bottom line (increasing the budget by more than 50 percent), allowing for facility upgrades, newer materials, and maybe even the opportunity to consider ... wait for it ... a small café to earn revenue on those people who come to the library for its in-house offerings like computers, newspapers, and magazines.
In summary, municipal government needs to stop thinking like it's 1900. There are opportunities to provide tax relief in our towns and cities by moving towards targeted fees that affect those who use municipal services.
- Bookless Libraries
I suppose that this will be the new look of libraries. I grant that it is efficient in economics and storage. But one has to miss the ambiance of wandering the shelves and actually holding a book. Even romance will be shelved. "Is a Bookless Library...
- No Books For Newport Beach Library?
"Tomes' time might be up at Newport Beach library" The city is considering closing its original library and replacing it with a community center that would offer all the same features — except for the books. by Mike Reicher March 29th, 2011 Los...
- A Library...operate It Like A Business?
"They're in the business, fundamentally, of making money,"..."That's what drives their decisions — and that's not what libraries have been all about." "Private company to take over Camarillo's public library" The city hopes to spend...
- Fox Television's "library" Statement
Trashy programmer Fox Television should reconsider their onair thoughts. "US libraries hit back at Fox News" Chicago official 'astounded' after report on channel questions spending of public money on libraries by Alison Flood July 8th, 2010 guardian.co.uk...
- "visions Of The Universe: Four Centuries Of Discovery"--tour
The American Library Association (ALA), in cooperation with the Space Telescope Science Institute, Office of Public Outreach, Baltimore, Maryland, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, invited public libraries to apply...
Philosophy
Library fees?
"Rethinking Government: Why We Need Library Rental Fees"
by
Barry Greenfield
July 21st, 2011
The Atlantic
by
Barry Greenfield
July 21st, 2011
The Atlantic
As a municipal official (selectman) and taxpayer, I often wonder why government evenly distributes taxes when there are clearly ways to lower the burden across the general tax base by charging fees for services that are used by specific groups. Take into consideration the following example:
Public libraries have been in existence for thousands of years, but for the purposes of this article, let's start with the year 1731, when Benjamin Franklin began a subscription library as a means of sharing thousands of books. Members needed to either purchase stock in the library (which was setup as a company) or become a member -- for about $5.
By 1833, Peterborough, New Hampshire, began to use tax revenue to purchase books for a publicly owned library, free to all residents. In 1854, the Boston Public Library became what is widely known as the first real public library, and more than 20 years later, the Dewey decimal system was brought into use.
In the early 20th century, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated $50 million to build 1,700 libraries in the United States. There are now more than 9,000 public libraries, not including branches. Around 85 percent of library funding comes from federal, state, and local taxes. The majority (90 percent or more) of that comes from local property taxes.
As a constant user and supporter of my town library, I am grateful for the access to the thousands of books, newspapers, and periodicals available within the library system. But I also have trouble understanding how the public library system has essentially undergone no fundamental change in the last century.
In the last 100 years, the cost of a new book has gone from 10 cents to $30, but anyone with a library card can rent that same book for free.
At a time where the tax burden can often be onerous, doesn't it make sense to ask library users to pay a nominal fee for a book rental? When municipal budgets are tightened, almost universally the library is left to hang by a thread. Amazingly, when library usage is at an all-time high, I read about library closings every week across this country.
But I never hear any politician or citizen's group recommending a rental fee to support the library.
Why do libraries get the short end of the stick? For a multitude of reasons, but primarily due to changes in how people have been gathering since technologies like radio and TV came on the scene. Prior to their introduction, libraries were a community gathering place. That's no longer the case, and in today's computer-based home environment, the majority of taxpayers in a municipality do not use the public library.
Does that mean we shouldn't offer the service to the community? Of course not. Instead, the municipal government should give baseline funding to the library, with the remaining funding coming from operational revenue.
In my town, more than 600,000 items were borrowed in 2010. Just a 50 cent fee on each item would add $300,000 to the bottom line (increasing the budget by more than 50 percent), allowing for facility upgrades, newer materials, and maybe even the opportunity to consider ... wait for it ... a small café to earn revenue on those people who come to the library for its in-house offerings like computers, newspapers, and magazines.
In summary, municipal government needs to stop thinking like it's 1900. There are opportunities to provide tax relief in our towns and cities by moving towards targeted fees that affect those who use municipal services.
- Bookless Libraries
I suppose that this will be the new look of libraries. I grant that it is efficient in economics and storage. But one has to miss the ambiance of wandering the shelves and actually holding a book. Even romance will be shelved. "Is a Bookless Library...
- No Books For Newport Beach Library?
"Tomes' time might be up at Newport Beach library" The city is considering closing its original library and replacing it with a community center that would offer all the same features — except for the books. by Mike Reicher March 29th, 2011 Los...
- A Library...operate It Like A Business?
"They're in the business, fundamentally, of making money,"..."That's what drives their decisions — and that's not what libraries have been all about." "Private company to take over Camarillo's public library" The city hopes to spend...
- Fox Television's "library" Statement
Trashy programmer Fox Television should reconsider their onair thoughts. "US libraries hit back at Fox News" Chicago official 'astounded' after report on channel questions spending of public money on libraries by Alison Flood July 8th, 2010 guardian.co.uk...
- "visions Of The Universe: Four Centuries Of Discovery"--tour
The American Library Association (ALA), in cooperation with the Space Telescope Science Institute, Office of Public Outreach, Baltimore, Maryland, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, invited public libraries to apply...