Librarians favor sharing the books and the bills

UTAH COUNTY — Librarians working in city-owned facilities in Utah County want a countywide library system — as long as it is fair, and their collections don't suffer.

They love to read, and they love to see others read. They understand the societal benefits that come with a literate population.

But, they worry about carte blanche access to collections that have taken them years to build.

Some, like Kerry Loveless of Salem, fear that once residents can go anywhere for books, tiny libraries like hers will go unused and face closure.

"I'm a county resident, and I also work part-time at the Payson Library. I know a lot of people who complain about the high non-resident fees so it would be good in that way," Loveless said. "But would it mean the demise of Salem's library?"

Orem librarian Louse Wallace contends that a countywide library system is not inherently cheaper or better than a city-based library system.

"The Salt Lake County library system cost $30.05 per capita in 2003," Wallace said. "That's per capita, not per household, and that $30.05 represents operating costs only. It does not include the debt service to pay for library buildings."

Wallace said that is comparable to what Orem and Provo spend to operate their libraries.

Wallace also believes that cities cannot legally give away library services that taxpayers support.

April Harrison, the librarian for Pleasant Grove, said she would love to see information and books and media available to all but asks, "How do we do that logistically?"

"It should be fair and open to all, but there should be some acknowledgement of the costs and the investment already made."

Harrison said a society is stronger when the citizens are more educated, and they are more educated when there is a strong library system. She said the idea is often discussed at monthly librarian get-togethers and says residents ought to look at the dollars put into libraries as investment dollars.

Eagle Mountain librarian Michele Graves would love to see more offered to her patrons. Eagle Mountain currently has space in the city offices for a small library that actually is the first new library in Utah County in two decades.

"Because we're such a small library, a county system would just open doors for us. I think it would be great," Graves said.