At its recent meeting the Santa Clara County Library Joint
Powers Authority Board (JPA) approved an increase to fines and fees
to help offset budget cuts for the library.
At its recent meeting the Santa Clara County Library Joint Powers Authority Board (JPA) approved an increase to fines and fees to help offset budget cuts for the library.
As of July 1, the overdue fine for adult feature DVD’s and videos will be $1 per day per item. Library materials returned on time are free.
A new charge for reserving books and other materials is also going into effect. The first three reserves or “holds” placed on adult or teen materials at any one time will be free. Once a fourth hold is placed, however, there will be a $1 charge per hold.
No fees are charged for reserving children’s materials.
Another change is that the maximum number of holds allowed per card at any one time will be reduced from 15 to 10.
The Santa Clara County Library has been ranked Number 1 by the Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings for three consecutive years. The Library is recognized for operating cost effectively and for its quality collections, staff, service and circulation of materials per capita. Uncertain state budget impacts and the loss of revenue because of the failure of Measure B on the March 2004 ballot measure are contributing factors to library budget cuts.
Measure B would have extended, and raised slightly, the parcel tax on library area residents that pays for at least 20 percent of the operating budget. Without the parcel tax, which will now end, the JPA had to find money somewhere else. It is also likely that some library branches, including the Morgan Hill Library, will reduce the number of hours they are open.
Councilman Steve Tate is Morgan Hill’s representative to the JPA.
The Santa Clara County Library serves the communities of Alum Rock, Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Milpitas and Saratoga. Two bookmobiles provide programs and collections to the unincorporated areas of the county.
The SCCL system does not include any San Jose library or those of Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Mountain View or Palo Alto.
Adult and family literacy programs and services are based in Milpitas and Gilroy. The Library also provides literacy services to the residents of the City of Mountain View and inmates housed in the County Department of Corrections. Details: www.santaclaracountylib.org
