NEWPORT BEACH : Doubts Raised on Non-Resident Library Fees

Though other cash-strapped library systems have begun charging non-residents to use their facilities, Newport Beach is skeptical.

Librarian LaDonna Kienitz told the City Council this week that if the Newport Beach Public Library starts requiring non-residents to pay a fee for borrowing privileges, the city would lose more than $300,000 a year in state funding that is available only to facilities that lend for free.

Following the lead of Huntington Beach and Santa Ana, which recently began charging non-residents for library cards, Newport Beach is considering a fee of $50 or $60 a year.

But what the library lost in state money it would have to recover elsewhere, library trustee Ben Johnson told the council, or be forced to reduce services.

Councilwoman Janice A. Debay agreed. “We would have to make sure that we could sell enough cards,” she said.

Mayor John W. Hedges spoke out in favor of the fee, however, and advised against “focusing on the margins.”

“We’ve got something here of value that people are willing to pay for,” Hedges said.

The council agreed to survey other libraries that charge non-residents, study other ways to raise funds and draw up budgets showing the actual cost to the library for each service it provides.

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Contemplating New Fees

Newport Beach is weighing a plan to restructure library fees and charge non-residents for using the facilities. What Newport charges now compared to two other cities:

Newport Huntington Santa Service Beach Beach Ana Non-resident card $0 $20 a year $45 a year Computer use $3 an hour $5 an hour $1 an hour Video checkout $1 a day $1-$2 for two days $1 for 3 days Typewriters $1 an hour $2 an hour $1 an hour Photocopies 20 cents a page 10 cents a page 15 cents a page Books on tape/CD $5/$0 50 cents/$1.25 $0/50 cents

Sources: Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana public libraries