My community library start charging money for borrowing books and media?

I have heard about this because of the fact that people will borrow books and media and they will never return them, so now they figure, "Well, if we charge the people for it, they will get the message that they have to return it." My college library doesn't do this, but they have a more sinister plan. If you don't return the books in the library or the media, they will slap a fine on your student account, and you have to pay that sucker. I have known students who have gotten into major trouble for this, and weren't allowed to graduate because of it. This is not a situation you want to get into. Ways to avoid it are turning the books in, in person, and checking to make sure that they were returned. Also, always check your student account to make sure that you have no outstanding fees. Yeah, libraries aren't messing around anymore.

Really? That's just so unfair. Since it's a community library, it should not be charging when its purpose is to serve the general public. It's understandable for libraries to charge when we are borrowing DVDs or any other E-related materials, because those are expensive and hard to come by. When it comes to books, our local community library rents it out for free but fines are imposed for late returns though. However there are some reference books whereby we are not allowed to borrow and to be used in the library only.

I also think that the library shouldn't charge you fees because they are non-profit. Here the library will let you deposit some money to open an account. And it is free of charge for you to borrow books after that. If you don't return to the books, then you will be charged some fees or deduct it from your deposit money. I love China

Our library is still free. But there isn't much to borrow in our public library. The funds are not enough. I do not know the situation in your place, if the budget is good enough for your library as provided by the government, then I would say that its definitely not good to impose those charges. But if isn't then I would say its okay. We all know that many people now tend to do research in the comfort of their home. Perhaps the library now is give lesser support considering the number of people going to the place has decreased.

It's sad to see that a community library would charge for borrowing books. i can see it with media. They have to insure some way that items will be returned. If libraries start charge for everything, it may result in fewer people enjoying library resources.

Our library also will take $17 as deposit, and if you damage or delay to return the things you borrowed , you will have to pay penalty. But to borrow things is totally free. I do think something wrong with your goverment , a library is a public welfare for people who pay taxes to the goverment,.

That's odd, but I do know that in my state funding for public libraries has been cut back significantly this year. Maybe it is the same where you live, and so libraries are turning to those using their services to fund the service. The county where I live collects a tax from home owners to fund the library system.

The whole point of a library is you get to borrow items for free. Now I'm wondering like another commenter if they charge you upfront or only if you're late returning something. If they're charging upfront, then you're no longer borrowing, you're renting. In which case, they should stop calling it a library, because it's misleading.

wow, well our city government funds our local libraries so i dont know if i would want to borrow as many books as i do now if i got charged for it.

That is quite shameful knowing that we have finally reached the stage where libraries start charging for the use of their materials! Libraries have always been free as far as I have been aware although I don't use them anymore. I used to have my Internet sessions at my local library but thankfully I now have the use of the Internet in my home. I guess this just goes to show that we really are going through difficult times financially. I wouldn't bother paying for something that has been used countless times by others. I would rather buy a new book or a new piece of music! This method may be more expensive but it's worth it in the end, you get to treasure the product! I haven't visited my local library in years and I probably won't now. I'm sure that there are lots of people that value their local library but I'm definitely not one of them. Andrew

Are you sure it was a fee to borrow and not an old overdue fee, that needed paying. I have never heard of Libraries charging to borrow any of their resources except maybe Micro films. However quite often they will charge over due fines, and in some cases the price of something you have lost on them. If your Community is charging to borrow books from the local Library, I feel bad for everyone in that community, books are like air for many people myself included.

My local library has raised their over due fees from 10 cents a day to 15 cents a day. Videos and music used to be free, but CD's are 25 cents to rent for a week, and it is 50 cents to rent DVD's for 4 days. It is still cheaper than buying it, but when everything at the Library used to be free, it was a bit frustrating when i had media that I wanted to rent and they wanted money. I know that communities are having a hard time coming up with the money to support the library, so it comes down to having to charge for the use of the materials. Books are still free as long as you return them on time.

is it because the power of money?