Services / Advocacy/Marketing / New Libraries in LaSalle County and Contracting for Library Service
Contracting for Library Service
PALS has created "Questions and Answers About Contracting" to provide guidance to libraries who may be approached as service providers.
In addition, members may also want to note what has been happening in LaSalle County. It's possible similar tactics could be used elsewhere.
New libraries in LaSalle County
Since November 2004, four libraries have been established by referenda in townships near Ottawa, Illinois.
The establishment of these township libraries appears to be a countermeasure aimed at thwarting the possible expansion of the Reddick Public Library, Ottawa, and Earlville Public Library, Earlville. Information distributed to the voters in two of the townships prior to the referendum promised full service from surrounding libraries at bargain basement prices.
Reddick and Earlville library officials each publicly stated a desire to serve their entire school districts prior to the establishment of the township libraries. Reddick and Earlville were each awarded library service demonstration grants by the Illinois State Library. Each library is scheduled to put an expansion or establishment ballot before voters in November 2006.
Reddick Public Library will exclude Fall River, Farm Ridge, and Wallace townships from its November referendum because township libraries have been established in these townships.
Earlville Public Library is contesting the establishment of the Freedom Township Library. Prior to the township library's establishment referendum in March 2006, Earlville filed paperwork to include the township as part of its November 2006 annexation referendum.
To see the geographic areas served by PALS public libraries, you may link to maps of the PALS collar counties and PALS non-collar counties areas. It's clear from these maps that there are hundreds of townships or parts of townships in PALS that are not currently served by an existing public library. If your library is interested in expanding, please contact Sandy Ringstrom or Nancy Smith for information on successful public library expansions and establishments.
Questions and Answers About Contracting
- Our library has been approached by a township library recently formed in LaSalle County about providing service to that library via a contract. Can we do this?
Yes, and many libraries do. The latest issue of Illinois Public Library Statistics published by the Illinois State Library lists 19 "working" libraries that provide library service to 18 "paper" libraries that receive library service.
"Working" libraries provide physical service. These libraries have a physical location, organized collection, trained staff, and financial support that meets or exceeds the minimum required level of support for library system membership.
"Paper" libraries purchase library service from "working" libraries via a contract for service. Paper libraries don't have physical library facilities, collections, or staff.
- Are any of the 18 "paper" libraries that contract for service located in PALS?
Yes. Six of eighteen paper libraries listed in the State report are in PALS. Each of these paper libraries contracts to receive library service for all its residents from a nearby working library.
The paper libraries in LaSalle County are not included among the 18 in the State report or the six in PALS. The first of paper libraries in LaSalle County was formed in November 2004. Three more were formed in March 2006. None of these libraries have formally contracted for service.
- What can you tell me about the contracts between the PALS members that contract for service?
These arrangements enable all the people who live in the service area of the paper library to receive library service from a nearby working library. For the payment of an annual fee, the working library provides the same level of service to the paper library's residents as it provides its own residents.
The taxpayers of the paper library get a huge benefit. They save money and get better service. Usually, the communities that establish paper libraries want library service but don't have enough population or tax base to create the financial support needed for an effective library.
The taxpayers of the working library also see a significant benefit. Because the working library gets a consistent annual fee, it is able to improve its service. Contract income often enables working libraries to add hours, improve collections, or extend services.
Generally, the service contracts between Illinois libraries are mutually beneficial for both parties and particularly beneficial for the citizens who pay the bills.
- Are there specific requirements for contracts?
Yes, no, and maybe.
Yes. PALS policies set a minimum financial requirement. A contract with a paper library must raise enough funding to qualify the paper library for State grants or the working library can't extend reciprocal borrowing or interlibrary loan to the paper library.
No. Library legislation gives library boards the authority to provide or receive library service by contract. Any contract that is mutually acceptable has the potential to be excellent.
Maybe. A good contract must be fair to the working library's taxpayers. A working library should not strike a deal that is substantially more favorable to a paper library's taxpayers than its own. We believe working libraries should require paper libraries to pay at least an amount that will qualify the paper library for State grants. Generally, this has been the standard in the State and doing less could damage the working library's relationship with its taxpayers.
- Why is qualifying for state grants an important minimum financial requirement for contracts with paper libraries?
All public library members of the System levy a tax that meets this financial requirement in order to be members of the System. Since the only thing a library contracting for service brings to an agreement is money, it's only fair contracting libraries meet this minimal financial requirement. See the PALS membership policy section III.C.1.a-e Contracting Libraries for more information.
- Do you have any sample contracts?
Yes
Homewood – East Hazel Crest
Marshall – Marshall Area
Silvis - Rock River Agreement
Wilmette/Winnetka - Kenilworth
- For years we've sold fee cards to the people who live in an "unserved" area. Does anything changed when this area becomes part of a "paper" library?
Yes. The area becomes an established legal entity with the responsibility for creating or contracting for library service. The people who live in the area are no longer "non-residents". The board that represents these people is now responsible for providing these people with library service. It is responsible for establishing a library or contracting with an existing library for library service.
- Initially, PALS told us that we had to sell cards to residents from this area, if we choose to sell fee cards. Is that true?
No. Our attorney informs us that since these people now live in the area of a tax supported public library, you may exclude them from any policy you have about selling cards to "non-residents". Under the law, the residents of the township library are no longer "non-residents". "Non-residents" are people who don't live in the area of a library taxing authority, as these people do.
- Are my (working library) patrons still able to get reciprocal borrowing the interlibrary loan, if I ignore your advice and contract with a paper library for an amount that doesn't qualify the paper library for State grants?
Yes. Your patrons qualify for those services because your library maintains membership in the System. One of the requirements for System membership is taxing at a level that qualifies your library for State grants.
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