Richardson PL, TX, Institutes Charges for Dallas Residents
Neighboring community can't afford influx; also limits TexShare
Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 10/28/2009
- Richardson experienced overcrowding, strain on services
- Dallas residents comprised 18 percent of patrons
- Richardson can't afford to hire more staff
Richardson Public Library (RPL), TX, located in a city of 100,000 that shares a border with Dallas, has ended free reciprocal borrowing with the Dallas Public Library (DPL), effective October 1.
RPL also has reduced its participation in the TexShare program, which enables borrowing among participating libraries, and allows only one item to be borrowed at a time. Both actions were taken "in order to maintain and provide better service," RPL director Steve Benson told LJ.
Popular with Dallas residents
RPL was just too crowded, Benson said. Dallas residents comprised 18 percent of RPL patrons and the library had a 30 percent boom in circulation during the months of August and September.
The parking lot filled up within an hour of opening, the computers were constantly in demand, and there were long lines at the checkout desk. Tensions flared over computer use and there were altercations, some serious, he said.
Why was RPL so popular with Dallas residents? The city’s single library is a substantial structure of 76,000 square feet, clearly visible from an intersection of roads that carry commuters to and from Dallas. Additionally, DPL recently cut service hours to five days a week at most locations. RPL is open every day.
RPL can't afford to hire more staff. Its budget of $3.4 million for the current fiscal year, which began October 1, is slightly more than the previous year but personnel expenses rose considerably. Travel and training expenses have been cut back, said Benson. RPL’s funds come from property taxes (70 percent) and statewide sales taxes (30 percent).
Ordinance effect
The City of Richardson passed an ordinance that reads, in part, "Residents of a city that charge a fee to Richardson residents to use such city library will be charged a fee for a Richardson borrower card equal to the fee charged to Richardson residents."
DPL charges Richardson residents $250 a year for borrowing privileges, the same amount RPL now charges Dallas residents. (Neighboring cities Garland and Plano will continue to have free privileges, as they offer free service to Richardson residents.)
RPL had six weeks to notify Dallas residents of their change in status, which it did with library signage and brochures. In early October, senior staffers were on hand at the checkout area to address concerns. Some people were indignant, Benson said; most "didn’t like it but said it seemed fair to them."
TexShare issues
RPL also gets $30,000 from TexShare, a statewide program that guarantees that patrons of participating public libraries can borrow from any library in the program. RPL previously allowed patrons from a TexShare-participating library to borrow up to five items at one time.
"We hated to do this because it goes against the ideals of libraries," Benson said about the new rules," but the reality is we’ve got limitations."
Laurie Evans, director of DPL, told the Dallas Morning News that few individuals have purchased $250 cards to use DPL, though the community of Addison bought 330 for its residents. In a year, DPL did sell individuals 66 punch cards, in most cases allowing five books for $25.
