Yorkville Library Board Discusses Non-Resident Library Cards

On Monday night, the board approved Yorkville Library Director Shelley Augustine’s recommendation to continue offering non-resident services and to continue using the tax bill method to calculate the fee on an individual basis. Property owners will be charged the library’s tax rate multiplied by the valuation of their property as an annual fee. Renters will be charged 15% of their monthly rent as an annual fee. 

A second discussion within this portion of the agenda called for the board’s response to Public Act 102-0843. This new act gives library boards the option to waive non-resident library card fees for persons under the age of 18. This is separate from the Cards for Kids Act program that requires libraries to issue free cards for certain Pre-K through 12th grade students, even if they live in unserved areas. Cards for Kids is specifically for children that meet poverty income guidelines. 

The discussions surrounding Public Act 102-0843 brought lively debate among the board members. Part of the board felt the library should not limit any child’s access to books. Other board members argued it was not fiscally responsible or fair to allow children from homes outside of the library taxing body to have the same borrowing privileges as resident children. A one-year program trial period was suggested, but the board collectively decided to table the agenda item until next month’s meeting. 

Several non-resident families attended Monday’s meeting.