JACKSON, Wyo. — The Teton County Library is proposing a new library card policy aimed at getting library cards in the hands of as many community members as possible, according to a press release issued by the Library.
Public comment on the proposed cards is open now through Oct. 14.
The new policy, designed by staff, proposes two new library car offerings — temporary and seasonal cards — and an updated fee schedule for non-resident library card holders.
If approved by the Library Board, the temporary card would allow users to access some digital/electronic resources for seven days. After seven days, the applicant would need to provide an accepted form of ID and proof of address to receive full access. The seasonal cards would be issued to seasonal workers and temporary residents who do not have proof of address.
“We consider anybody who lives, attends school or pays property taxes in Teton County, or is an employee of Teton County or the Town of Jackson to be community members,” Teton County Library Director Kip Roberson said in a statement.
A new fee structure for out-of-county cards would increase the annual fee from $20 to $190.
According to the Library, the fee structure will be calculated annually using a formula dividing the library income from local property taxes or its equivalent by the local population to determine the cost of service per capita. The formula aims to make the annual fee “equitable and proportionate to the fee paid by residents.”
“Because some of the card types come with restrictions, there may be a few patrons who would like to bypass those restrictions with full access to all of our collections and services,” Roberson said. “In those cases, it’s only fair that those folks pay the equivalent of what a local resident pays per capita for library services.”
Public comment can be submitted via email to board@tclib.org or mailed to Teton County Library Board of Directors at P.O. Box 1629, Jackson, WY, 83001. The Library Board will also host a public hearing on Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. and will accept public comment before voting on the proposed changes.
Proposed policy changes can be found online at tclib.org/proposedpolicy and a paper version is posted at the Jackson Main Library and Alta Branch Library.
