Utah County library system may stay on the shelf

OREM — A countywide library system would provide more books to more residents, but it wouldn't be significantly less expensive to operate, says one local librarian.

Research by Orem city librarian Louise Wallace and her staff shows a countywide library system would reduce city spending for local library operations by less than 25 cents per person.

And while a countywide system would open existing local libraries to all Utah Valley residents, the Orem research indicates that nationally, people tend to favor using hometown libraries.

Wallace said the research shows the statewide median expenditure for books and library operations is $19.91 per person. County systems spend only slightly less than city operations at $19.76 per person on average.

In Utah County the average for city-owned libraries is about $1.50 less per capita ($18.22) than the state average, even though Orem and Provo, the two cities with the largest libraries in the county, spend substantially more for library services (when bonding repayment for new facilities is included) than the smaller cities. Last year, Orem spent $30.31 per capita and Provo spent $26.47.

Utah County cities without public libraries spent an average of $2.42 per person. That money went mostly for subsidy programs that allow residents to purchase a non-resident card at a library in a neighboring community. Alpine and Cedar Hills provided $35 per household while Lindon paid more than $56 per household. Non-resident cards range between $65-$100, depending on the city.

The tiny library in Eagle Mountain makes its facility available at no cost to residents from Cedar Fort, Fairfield and Saratoga Springs. "We don't care. We want everybody," Mayor Kelvin Bailey told local mayors recently.

Utah spends slightly less per capita for library services than states nationwide and significantly less than states in the Rocky Mountain region. The average expenditure in the region is between $28 and $30 per capita.

Cities without libraries are reluctant to jump into the mix partly because new library buildings cost about $200 per square foot for construction and furnishings. The Davis County Library System's new Syracuse/Northwest branch, which opened in 2003, cost $1 million for an 8,100-square-foot building. The Salt Lake County Library System's South Jordan facility will cost $4 million when it's finished in 2005.

Since even the smallest library must offer core resources and services, generally a minimum of 2,500 square feet is recommended for a branch and at least 4,000 square feet for an independent library.