After the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (JMRL) was saved from a few tough decisions (and possible branch closures) by another year of level funding from Albemarle County, the organization isn’t taking any chances. In a press release, Library Director John Halliday announced that the JMRL would increase a few fees in order to offer the same services for another year.
"The Library Board realizes fines and fees may discourage some library users, but the library needs to keep its budget balanced," says Halliday in the release. The fee for overdue books will increase for the first time in more than 30 years, from 10 cents to 25 cents. Interlibrary loans—"books borrowed from libraries outside the regional library system"—will carry a charge of three dollars "to offset postage costs."
"With increasing library use, increasing costs and a tight budget, the Library Board needed to take steps to cut costs and increase revenue," says Halliday. The release also notes that the library experienced its busiest year in 2009, but works with an operating budget lower than that of the average Virginia library.
