Champaign library may lose reciprocal privileges
CHAMPAIGN — Patrons of the Champaign Public Library could lose the ability to check out books from different sources and the library could be disqualified from state grants if a regional library system decision sticks.
The board of directors of the Illinois Heartland Library System last week voted to suspend Champaign's membership from the regional group. The state of Illinois has two months to review and either uphold or overturn the regional system's decision before library users see any change in service.
IHLS director Leslie Bednar said the decision was a direct result of a Champaign Public Library policy to charge $200 annually to residents of the Tolono and Mahomet districts to use the Champaign library.
"By law, patrons of those two libraries should be able to check out items," Bednar said. "There shouldn't be a fee."
The Champaign policy directly violates an IHLS policy, which states, "A public library shall not sell a separate use card to residents who live in another legally established library service area that taxes for library service."
Champaign library director Marsha Grove was out of the office and not available for comment on Monday. But she has said that the purpose of the fee is to minimize the effect of Mahomet and Tolono district residents on Champaign library materials. Those patrons were making regular use of the Champaign library instead of their home libraries, she said, and putting a strain on Champaign resources during a tight budget cycle.
After the IHLS board decision, the policy could have the reciprocal effect.
If the suspension is upheld, "because they wouldn't be part of the system, they wouldn't have to honor a reciprocal borrowing request from any other person at any other library," Bednar said. "Patrons of the Champaign Public Library wouldn't be entitled to that either."
The Illinois Heartland Library System is relatively new — it is the result of a merger this summer of four smaller systems, including the former Lincoln Trail Libraries System. It includes 594 member libraries throughout downstate Illinois.
The system provides the conduit through which library materials are shared between those libraries, including the delivery system that trucks books from one library to another.
Champaign "would no longer be able to receive delivery of library materials," Bednar said.
Because the Champaign library would not be a part of any system, it would not be eligible for state and federal grants administered by the Illinois State Library, Bednar said.
Bednar hopes the 60-day time limit on the state review will be a chance for "everyone to come to the table."
"I really do see this time as, OK, this is the time to seriously look at this," she said.
Suspending a library's membership is not a typical step, she said. The library system "would like to keep them as a member," she said, but she believes the only way back is for Champaign library administrators to ditch the $200 fee.
"They would have to remove that policy to be able to be considered a full member again," Bednar said.
So, either we have to accept the abuse of the system by a significant proportion of the patrons of the Tolono and Mahomet districts or we get kicked out? It really does amaze me that some people feel entitled to refuse to pay for services they consume, and then complain to no end when the people they have been mooching from take steps to end the abuse.
If we can't charge them for the services they consume, then let's put a two item per month limit on borrowers from the districts that are over using the CPL. Surely they don't need to borrow more than two items a month from CPL, right? If they do need more than two items per month from the CPL then that seems to be a clear indication that they are deliberately underfunding their own libraries at the direct expense of CPL district residents. Equitable sharing agreements are a wonderful thing and are to be encouraged. But, as the stats show, the arrangement has been far from equitable for a long, long time.
What goes around, comes around. You don't want to share? Fine; no one will share with you. It is that basic. Please keep your policy. The county can get by without the Champaign Library.
Sid--
Whatever do you mean? How is the county going to get by without the world-class selection of Danielle Steel and sundry romance novels, or the Twilight series? I'm glad that they always have about 500 copies of those types of books, but most of the classics have to be obtained from Urbana or even small town libraries.
CPL has always had the option of limiting the number of items that people from other library districts can check out from CPL, but the library's board of trustees has chosen to require that Tolono and Mahomet library districts residents purchase a CPL card instead.
To promote cooperation I think it would make sense to fund libraries (and schools, for that matter) equitably, but that would require changes in existing law. Meanwhile, CPL does have choices apart from requiring purchase of a CPL card.
Mark this date people. I can't believe this would ever come to be - and I'll only say it once so pay attention - but I fully concur with John's statement. So much so that I can't help but wonder if his account wasn't hacked by an imposter.
People who live in the Mahomet and Tolono districts have higher median incomes than those who live in the CPL district. I'm glad you agree that the less affluent should not be forced to subsidize consumption of services by those who are better off financially.
Sounds like a Tea Party conspiracy......
Ok, Mr O'Connor, or should I say "Mr. Pot". Now meet Mr. kettle
Your words-"It really does amaze me that some people feel entitled to refuse to pay for services they consume, and then complain to no end when the people they have been mooching from take steps to end the abuse. "
So you feel entitled to use the reciprical lending system without paying for it (ie allowing all other libraries to freely borrow from yours), and wish to complain about it when the powers that be take steps to end that abuse (ie throwing your library out of the reciprical lending system).
It appears the truth of the matter of is that you feel, because you pay more for your library than others pay for theirs, that you are entitled to have your cake and eat it too. Since you pay so much for your great library, and it has so much that everyone else wants to use, why should it matter if you are allowed to use materials from other libraries? maybe you should pay even more for your library so that it has EVERY SINGLE book, movie, recording or other material ever published. Then you'd never have to borrow from another library. Take your trucks and play alone, but don't ask to borrow mine either. Seems more than fair.
Our way or the highway approach, very professional. I'll get my things from Urbana or Champaign rather than through Heartland libraries.
Good for Heartland. Play by the rules, Champaign, or leave the system. I see your point about overuse by certain members and I agree that a cap might help solve the problem (as long as it is not breaking any other library system rules). 2 seems a little low...I'd say 6 or so items a month.
The rules should be amended to prevent abuse. Such abuse of the system apparently isn't against the rules, but it is surely against the spirit of what is supposed to be an equitable sharing system.
Surely everyone can agree that residents of one or two districts shouldn't be able to deliberately underfund their own libraries and then mooch off of the residents of districts that do adequately fund their library, no?
Well.. No one is going to be mooching off of "your" library. The county libraries will do just fine. Andrew Carneige is probably spinning in his grave right now. It used to be the Champaign Free Library. It was established to allow anyone of any age, gender, or economic background to access information. The county will do just fine without "your" library.
One minor fact that need to be mentioned -
Heartland Library System operates per policy set by its members - and if one does wishes to be a member and enjoy the benefits of belonging, then one is expected to abide by those policies. If one does not like the policies - one should not expect to be a member or gain the benefits of joining. If one decides not to follow a policy, one should expect to lose one's membership.
Please note that I am not saying that there issues that need to be resolved within the Heartland system - but telling an organization that you want to be member - but not have to follow the rules is somewhat counter productive.
My .02
Although I find it irritating that there is a fee, I can kind of see their point. I think that people need to remember that they can do interlibrary loans fairly easily and have the materials brought to them at their home library. It takes a few days, but maybe that would reduce the strain.
Actually, Mahomet and Tolono residents cannot do that either. CPL does not allow them to order through inter-library loan. This point is moot now since CPL no longer uses the same computer system as Heartland members. No one can order books from them now anyway. (CPL will claim they can...but they are being misleading. Patrons will not be able to do it themselves anymore.)
Actually, the fee also applies if a Tolono or Mahomet resident gets CPL materials via inter-library loan. It's ridiculous.
I love the library, but the $200 fee is just too much. I understand the CPL's concerns, but the whole point of ILL is to help all libraries by creating a larger pool of materials from which patrons can borrow. No one library has to order and hold as many materials because of it, and it helps everyone. It's too bad the CPL thinks they shouldn't have to play by the rules that don't suit them.
Did Bednar really say "by law?"
"By-law" would be better. Or "rule," perhaps. The Heartland system won't survive if it doesn't approach its funding policies with greater delicacy and foresight. But the first step is to learn the basic terminology.
Glad to see that someone has finally pointed out to the CPL that (bad) decisions will have consequences.
If the CPL wants to go at it alone, then let them. We'll see how long that they last.
I live in a pretty modest house in Champaign (below median value) and I'm pretty sure I pay more than $200 in my tax bill for library use. So I understand that $200 is steep, but I don't have a choice. I have no idea what people in Mahomet and Tolono pay to fund their libraries, but why can't all people who use this system pay at the same rate, regardless of where they live? Otherwise, Champaign is essentially funding the bargain rate of other communities. I know people love to argue that it's about access, but it's about economics, really.
I really don't see why everyone in surrounding towns would want to use the Champaign library anyway. Their stock of new books is really sad, unless I suppose you really want books on, say windows 98. Want a car repair manual? Forget it, you can't find repair books on classic cars or new cars, only a few in between. If you want a romance I suppose you're ok.
The book loaning is really important if you want to be able to get decent books. They really should have built a library half as big, thrown out all of the worthless books they have and bought new books.
I don't even care any more, I gave up going to the library years ago after constantly going to the library and coming out with nothing.
Thank god for the internet!
www
Marty—
If they built a library half as large, that would’ve meant half the room to devote to the self-aggrandizing, local “patrons of the arts”. Everyone needed to know whose parents had enough money to pay for a kids room named after them. Or, who has the deep pockets to pay for the automated checkout.
Honestly, the first time I stepped in there I thought it felt like a mall. The funding for the “new library” was really about the new building and did little to address the dearth of some genres of books and media. The last time I went there they did appear to be making some progress though.
If I’m not mistaken, I think citizens (of Illinois) can get access to the UI Libraries. That may be an option for some people.
There are several libraries in IL that have had the same type of problem as Champaign. None of these other libraries started charging a fee. Why would they not try resolving the problem the same way that had been successful for other libraries?
I don't check out $200 of materials from the Champaign library, and it would be a stretch to fit that in the budget anyway. I have donated extra money to my library and have donated some books I purchased rather than being able to check out from CPL. However, I really think this policy punishes the people that benefit the most from the library, while just providing a stumbling block for those that abuse the privileges.
Also, just because there are more people in Mahomet and Tolono that "overuse" the CPL, doesn't mean that citizens of other communities are not doing the same thing (because they are). Is it really fair to say I don't care if people who live in St. Joseph do this, but they live in Mahomet or Tolono, so they must be stopped? I would think they would want to stop all people from doing this if it is such a burden. Not to mention that there are plenty of people in Mahomet who use the library fairly and now no longer can. I think it is unfair to single out 2 areas (that are closest to CPL), when really they are wanting people that live in other towns to not use their library as a home library. Also, no matter how well the Mahomet or Tolono library is funded they are never going to be as large as Champaign. People in Mahomet and Tolono used CPL more because it is convienent and had more items (which it always will).
I agree that imposing limits would be a fair and reasonable policy. (And in my opinion what should have been done in the first place.) 5 items at a time seems to be the average of what other libraries have done.
So, you acknowledge that (a) the people from the Tolono and Mahomet districts underfund their own library; and (b) they, to a larger degree than people from other districts, use the CPL as their de facto home library.
That means that they are mooching off of those of us who pay the at least $200 to adequately fund our own library. That is abuse of what was meant to be an equitable sharing system.
You can certainly complain that we no longer wish to subsidize people who deliberately game the system, but you can't really expect us to keep doing it.
This is a perfect example of a bureaucratic institution that serves itself and by its very nature considers itself "invincible, untouchable, too good for the ganders, high and mighty, nose turned up: and all other relevent
phrases that are totally applicable. Everyone in all library communities are feeling the pinch of not affording the cost of a book whether it be by actually owning a personal copy or paying community taxes to use their respective comunity library system. So-- if one cog loses some of its financial wheel--the other cogs should not be excluded from equal access.
Whatever happened to the practice of "help your neighbor?
After all--some people are more equal than others--right?
By your logic, why would a community adequately fund a library in the first place? Afterall, they should be able to benefit from the help of their neighbors.
To those who find the $200 per year too much, that is what it costs for Champaign residents to support their own library. When you start adding an inordinate number of users that do not support the library, it will only serve to increase the $200 per year that Champaign residents pay. They would have Champaign residents pay more to allow others to use the CPL when they repeatedly refuse to increase funding for their home library. Where is the fairness in that?
Instead of fees and plans to limit the number of books, what if the new library system were one taxing body? Take all of the libraries in the system, analyze operating costs, and tax everyone as if it were one library. The result would have me paying far less than $200 per year and many paying far more than they do now. I highly doubt that those who, to use John's words, like to mooch off of the CPL would like that plan very much. But, it sound fair to me.
People need to have the correct information to make an informed descision about something...in this case the whole story has never really been told. Simple truth Champaign patrons used and still continue to use the other libraries in the system as much as other partons from other surrounding libraries use theirs.(you can check the stats and they don't lie) Champaign could have solved this problem by limiting the number of items patrons from others libraries check out but instead because the Director is short sighted and has a me me me mentalitiy she convinced her board the right thing to do is make a patron pay twice once for their own library and once for hers. Those libraries don't ask Champaign patrons to pay for a card to use their material and never will because they believe in the spirit of reciprical borrowing. Go ahead Champaign cut off your nose to spite your face and see how much public support you have when You're patrons don't have access to materials outside your library. Bottom line is you can't fill your patrons demands for everything because you don't have everything or they wouldn't be using the Linc System to request items from elsewhere in the lending system.As it stands now by leaving the combined automation system you are cutting off you're patrons direct access to materials at other libraies besides Champaign and Urbana. Hope you are prepared to hire more staff to take care of all of those outside the system requests that you will have for you're patrons.
I live in Champaign and own my own home. I pay taxes towards the Champaign Library. What library do I use the most? Urbana because I work right across the street and can walk over on my breaks and pick items up. Where do I get my materials from? All sorts of different libraries, whoever has the item I request available at the time of my request. Now you tell me that Champaign patron's don't borrow just as much from others as they lend out. It's stupid that in this day and age we can't share and share alike. Most people who live in Tolono and Mahomet so it seems reasonable that if they work close to the Champaign library that they'd stop in there because it's convenient. We all pay taxes and gee there are by far more people paying towards the Champaign Library that smaller towns so it seems to reason that Champaign would have more than they would.
There is a lot of data that isn't being considered. For example, from Jan-Jun 2011 Champaign patrons borrowed 113 items from my collection of 20,000. My patrons borrowed 70 items. This data can be found on the LINC member services website. The small libraries aren't totally pulling resources from Champaign. Champaign is also pulling from the small libraries.
I live in Champaign, and I regularly request item the CPL doesn't have. Honestly, I get the majority of my items from the Mattoon Public Library. I think that's wonderful--there doesn't need to be a copy of these books in each library because we can SHARE!!
Has anyone said sharing is not a good idea? What people object to is non reciprocal sharing by some who abuse the system.
Thank you. Sharing makes sense.
How many books were checked out from the Champaign library by people of your town?
How many books were checked out of your library by people from champaign?
Okay, so here's the situation: some people choose to live in areas that have not only lower tax rates, but also smaller tax bases. They also consistently vote down efforts to adequately fund their own libraries.
Instead, out of an unchecked sense of entitlement, they demand to have full access to services paid for by people who live in a district with a higher tax rate and a larger tax base. They also ignore the data that unquestionably demonstrates that a significant proportion of residents of these districts abuse the system and effectively use the the CPL as their home library.
It's time to rewrite the rules of the reciprocal sharing agreement to disallow such deliberate and long term inequitable use of the system.
I find it interesting that you choose to ignore the fact that patrons of the Champaign Library are using others libraries in the system and in simular quanities based on population and collection size. Again check the data available on the Linc Member system website...that data doesnt lie... nobody is trying to get something for nothing and I am pretty sure since you apparently don't live in a small town and you seem rather uninformed about how tax dollars are distributed in different townships other than Champaign you probably don't have any actual numbers to support your claim that those of us in small towns consistently vote down efforts to adequately fund our own libraries...as a matter of fact I live in a township that has a surplus of funds and has tons and tons of new and old materials available to not only their home patrons but patrons of your Champaign Library as well
The question is about the behavior of a significant proportion of the people in the Tolono and Mahomet districts. They stats show that people from other districts are not abusing the system and neither I, or anyone else on here, ever claimed they were. The sharing stats between Champaign and the other surrounding districts are within equitable ranges.
Conversely, the stats between the CPL and Mahomet and Tolono districts indisputably demonstrate inequitable sharing patterns. Simply put, it is not reciprocal.
Are you really trying to claim that Mahomet and Tolono district residents have not consistently voted to underfund their libraries?
I don't know if those communities have as you state consistently voted to underfund their libraries.. I don't live there. What I was addressing was your statement that those who live in smaller taxing districts consisently vote to underfund their library. You can't actually write one thing and then say you meant something else.. but I agree with Sid.. Champaign can go along it's merry way...all of us will be fine with you but the question is will you be fine without us?? Just remember when Marsha Grove wanted her name and the Champaign Library recognized as one of the great littlest libraries in the country she was inviting EVERYONE to come and use her library now that she acheived that goal her story is different and how come she is never available for comment and leaves her staff to field questions...
From the context of my comments, it seems clear that I was referring to Mahomet and Tolono district residents. If you, like Sid, want to deliberately misread my comments, then there's nothing I can do about that. It does seem to reinforce my point that many who expect to have their library use funded by the residents of CPL are not being intellectually honest.
And, for the record, residents of those districts have consistently voted to underfund their own libraries.
Mr. O'Connor, CPL has always had the ability to limit the number of items checked out by residents of other library districts, thus effectively eliminating the ability of residents from other districts to check out inordinate numbers of CPL items without affecting residents of of the Tolono and Mahomet districts who have not been relying overly heavily on the resources of CPL. CPL would have been able to restrict checkouts with no more, and perhaps less, administrative burden than that imposed by the library's decision to require purchase of a Champaign card.
However, the CPL Board of Trustees has chosen to require that Tolono and Mahomet district residents purchase CPL cards instead, which they knew from the get go was a violation of Illinois library law and of both LTLS and IHLS policies.
Yes, it would be more equitable if everyone in Illinois were required to pay the same amount toward library services. However, unless and until the law is changed, CPL has alternatives.
Well, I don't think people outside the CPL really know everything about the decision making process or the comparative administrative burdens and costs to the CPL. A cap seems like it might be a good idea, but it also seems like it would be more of a burden with more associated costs.
For starters, would the cap be applied per card holder, per family, per address, or what? There's quite a lot of potential for continued abuse of the system with any cap, however conceived. And a cap would almost certainly be more of a drain on staff and administrative time and cost.
The good thing about a cap is that it would seem to target, and perhaps even prevent, abuse. However, it would still seem to lay the increased costs, through no fault of their own, at the feet of the CPL workers and district residents. For the record, if we could find a fair and effective way to administer a cap, I think most people who object to the abuse of the system would be happy with it.
I am being extremely intellectually honest. I don't expect my library use to be funded by CPL. I pay taxes to my Library and use it. I don't like the CPL its cold and devoid of true personal interaction. I read what you wrote..And this isn't about Mahomet or Tolono anymore this about a director of a Library and it's board deciding that they are outside of the guidelines that as a member library they agreed to...CPL isn't special and there are plenty of other libraries for all of us to choose from. It's so sad that there is a mentality of selfishness...Heaven forbid should anyone from Mahomet or Tolono walk into your library and take a book off the shelf that you may at sometime in the future want... yet those people work in the town you happen to live in and contribute to the City of Champaign's well being...oh by they CPL patrons always get items they request from their library before it goes to others around the system... But guess what you will always be welcome at my hometown library and will be greeted by warm smiles from a staff that is always willing to lend a hand and go the extra mile...because we care that everyone has access to materials for intellectual growth and entertainment
It is about how some people from these two districts are abusing the system. You claimed I didn't know the facts about how they underfund their libraries and then, when confronted with actual facts rather than knee jerk speculation, you acknowledged that you in fact didn't know that they underfund their libraries.
I never claimed special status for CPL; I, and others who adequately fund our library, object to the people from these districts who think they are special and don't have to fund their libraries because they can game the system and let the generally less affluent CPL district residents subsidize their library use.
And I have multiple times said reciprocal sharing is a very good thing. You are being quite intellectually dishonest when you imply that I have stated otherwise. I am, however, against non reciprocal use, especially when it is by people from generally more affluent communities taking advantage of generally less well off CPL residents.
John
Since I live in the Tolono TOWNSHIP Library District I am not aware of the politics of Mahomet, but in the 14 years I have lived here - after 22 years in Champaign, I am unaware of any attempt by local voters to "underfund" the local library system. The only library referendum I am aware of - and I vote in every election - in passed successfully. I do pay about $100 a year in taxes to the Tolono TOWNSHIP Library - which is an independent governmental body with no ties to the villages of Savoy, Tolono and Sadorus which it serves. The Tolono TOWNSHIP library is subject to tax caps - and must deal with the fact that the majority of their EVA for tax purposes is farmland. The Tolono Township Library is currently operating within its budget, so has not gone to the voters for an increase. So your charge that the voters of the Tolono TOWNSHIP Library are deliberately underfunding the system do not seem to be supported by the data. And for the record - the Tolono TOWNSHIP Library dates back to the late 1960's - so it is not a recent creation designed to ride on Champaign's coattails.
(Pardon my capitalization of the term TOWNSHIP - but many people assume that the Tolono Library is run by the village of Tolono in the same way that the Champaign CITY Library is governed by the City of Champaign. They are not.)
The Champaign Public Library could have used the existing software to place limits on the items that could be checked out to patrons of other libraries - but they chose not to do so, Such limitations are legal under the old Lincoln Trail rules as well as the Heartland rules. The Champaign Public Library choose not to follow that path.
Now I work part time at a small state funded educational library which is part of Lincoln Trails/Heartland System - of whom Champaign is our biggest user. For every 20 items I send to Champaign, I borrow 1 in return from Champaign. Our staff was cut over half due to funding issues, so should this educational facility bill the Champaign Public Library on the grounds that they take more then they get. Under the logic expressed by Champaign this would be the case.
The items in our collection are NOT items I would expect every library in the area to purchase on their own - it makes far for sense to have a central collection and send them out to the other libraries as needed. This is the purpose of inter library loan - it helps libraries to have access to resources without having to purchase them for each facility.
From the point of view of Heartland, if Champaign gets to pick and choose who gets items free - and who has to pay for then - in these cash strapped times once the precedent has ben set - every library will start billing other libraries where an the ratio of items loaned is not 50/50. The Illinois interlibrary loan system - set up 40 years ago with a goal of making tax dollars go further statewide - will vanish as each library goes after each other to collect what they can.
Now - if you want to level the playing field - perhaps a county wide library district could be set up to charge everyone the same, but then the issue of loss of local control enters into play.
My .02
I'd think it's primarily residents of Savoy and Mahomet who are abusing the system, not Tolono, Sadorus or areas in between. How about this phrasing: they have not voted to adequately fund their libraries. Otherwise, they would not be using the CPL as their de facto home library.
And, as I wrote above, I'm also fully in support of consolidating the area districts and charging an equal fee for all residents -- that would clear up all the issues and control would still seem to be local enough.
John... There is no need to "rewrite the rules of the reciprocal sharing agreement". You have your library; and the rest of us share our libraries. It will solve the problem.
Let the other towns do inter-library loans for free or check books out AT the Champaign library with a $200 fee.
As a tax paying resident of the CPL, we're the ones who are going to suffer. We will be limited to materials that only CPL has because we've alienated ourselves and no one will willing share with us anymore. CPL can't even possibly begin to offer anything a patron can want so if they don't have it we're SOL. The other libraries will go on their merry way and continue to share in the spirit that the system was intended. What are my tax dollars doing for me lately. Also, I'd like to point out that in these tough economic times was it smart to spend $20000 on a new automation system instead of staying in the one that was shared…and I as a taxpayer certainly wasn’t polled before the money was spent.
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