by Marta Murvosh
Pilot program on track for approval
ANACORTES — Councilman Bill Turner was ready Monday to throw his support behind a proposal to allow the library card holders in good standing in Anacortes, Burlington and La Conner to check out materials from the other two municipalities’ libraries.
“I move we approve this,” Turner said.
But Mayor Dean Maxwell interrupted Turner because the meeting Monday was a work session. The council must provide notification that it might be voting on such measures. So the councilman changed what he wanted to say.
“It’s a good idea,” Turner said.
The proposed program between the three libraries would mirror the reciprocal borrowing agreement made permanent earlier this year between the Mount Vernon and Burlington libraries.
The impact on the circulation was nominal for Mount Vernon and Burlington — less than 2 percent and 7 percent, respectively, of the total circulated materials, according to reports from each city.
Since Skagit County doesn’t have a countywide library system, such agreements are the only way the six libraries can share resources, said Cynthia Harrison, Anacortes library director. The libraries are funded primarily by city or library district property taxes.
“This will give our residents the opportunity to go to Burlington and La Conner and borrow materials,” Harrison said. “… This will give us a bigger pool of materials.”
For instance, Anacortes has an extensive jazz collection and Burlington, a larger DVD collection, she said. Access to all three libraries also would be more convenient for commuters between the three communities.
“I just think it will help with people’s busy lifestyles,” Harrison said.
The Anacortes council could vote on the proposal as early as July 20 or Aug. 3. If approved, the pilot program would begin Sept. 1 and be evaluated after a year.
Mount Vernon’s library board was interested in participating but has postponed joining the agreement for at least a quarter, Harrison said.
Directors at the six libraries in Skagit County have long sought a countywide system, but voters have rejected such proposals, most recently in 2005.
But non-resident library card holders in Anacortes, Burlington and La Conner will be limited to checking out materials at libraries where they paid an annual fee. The reason the non-resident card holders won’t be able to use the proposed program comes down to money.
In Anacortes, the average home owner with a home valued at $350,000 home pays $160 in taxes to support the city’s library, Harrison said. The nonresident card in Anacortes costs $75 a year. Similar tax support exists in Burlington and La Conner.
The Anacortes library board didn’t feel comfortable passing on the reciprocal borrowing privilege to people paying less, she said.
Marta Murvosh can be reached at 360-416-2149 or .
