THOUSAND OAKS : Non-Resident Fees for Library May Rise

Bookworms who live outside Thousand Oaks may have to pay a $55 annual fee if the City Council adopts a plan to charge non-residents for the privilege of using city libraries. The council is scheduled to review the fee tonight.

The fee is intended to offset the cost of operating two city libraries, according to library services Director Marvin Smith. About $4.8 million is spent each year running libraries in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park.

Fees would be charged beginning July 1. The plan excludes students enrolled in city academic institutions, and landowners and residents of unincorporated areas of Thousand Oaks covered under library service agreements with the county.

A study of borrowers during a six-month period last year indicated that about 38%, or nearly 43,000 people, live outside the city in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

The largest number, 7,604 people, live in Moorpark. Simi Valley residents made up the second-largest group. About 6,344 Simi Valley residents use Thousand Oaks libraries.

When the plan was presented, it generated modest opposition from an Oak Park resident.

Moorpark Mayor Paul Lawrason said Thousand Oaks should outline a different fee for students.

“I don’t think it’s right,” Lawrason said. “We have college students here in our city that need to use that library for reference purposes. That is an outrageous amount of fees to pay.”

On Friday, Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton said Thousand Oaks libraries should be free to all borrowers, since Thousand Oaks residents use facilities in Simi Valley.

“I don’t think they’re going to get any money out of it, because I don’t think people will pay $55 to go,” Stratton said. “What’s the purpose of the library, anyway? You can’t look at them as moneymakers.”