A buck to borrow a book - a good idea?

Everyone's broke these days (well, not hedge fund bosses -- they're getting billions in bonuses), so don't be surprised as a bookish hand reaches for your wallet. If a new plan by the L.A. Public Library gets the nod, you'll have to pay a dollar each time the book you borrow arrives via the intra-library loan system, says Carolyn Kellogg, in our lit-blog, Jacket Copy.

If this were a kind of luxury tax, it wouldn't seem all that bad. I mean, a dollar, right? But some people are concerned that it'll affect the smallest, least-funded branch libraries -- and their patrons -- the most. That's why they've launched this blog urging people to write to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and library leaders and to organize opposition to the fee before the May 1 City Council hearing on the library's budget.

That's right -- the little libraries with the smallest collections are often in poorer neighborhoods. So those who could least afford it would have to do the most intra-system borrowing. And paying.

Whichever side of the issue you find yourself on, the May 1 council date gives you two short weeks to get mobilized. If you think books -- and reading -- really matter, that is.

Read Carolyn's full post (and she's got some great links) here.

--Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Getty Images

Comments

[Felicia Bolden-Vaughn]

I don't think charging for intra-library loan is a good idea. This will discourage those in the poorer neughborhood from using the library services. Sometimes this service means the difference in a child completeing or not completeing a school project. I just think there will be a lot of unforseen repercussions.

[Beverly]

I love the inter-library transfer system. It is not unusual for the book in need to be at another library. However, charging $1.00 a book is pricey, especially when you consider how children with voracious reading appetites can go through a number of books in one sitting. Are we going to punish people who take pleasure in educating themselves? If this proposal goes through, in the long run, maybe owning a video game system will become more affordable than borrowing books from the library. Then we'll have no one to blame but ourselves for our lack of intellectual curiosity.

[Claudia Pearce]

How about if they make the $1 voluntary for those who can afford it?
It would be interesting to see what percentage of people could/would pay.
I use the intra-library loan system at least once a month (at the Los Feliz Library) and would be happy to pay the $1 per time.
But I agree that it should not be charged automatically, for reasons already stated above.
Note: please don't post my e-dress. Thanks.

[Vicky]

I wonder how nany non-residents of the city of Los Angeles use the library system? I am one who does and would pay a yearly fee to be able to continue do so. As long as it wasn't more than $25, since I don't have much income.