Now that’s out of the way. . .

What Joshua described is pretty much the way we handle it here too — and I would call it a “best practice.” We require minimal ID to get a card that can access the Internet. We are more specific when it comes to borrowing books (we need a way to remind people to bring the books back).

I also agree with Joshua about tourists and visitors. Libraries are a key attraction for tourists and bringing in tourists brings in revenue for businesses, which in turn creates jobs and improves the tax base. While I can understand the challenges some cash-strapped small libraries with high tourism could experience, doing what you can to accommodate visitors brings welfare to everyone in town. It can also be a useful avenue to request grant funding from government agencies. . .

And what about all the tourists that comes to town to visit a library to do research etc…..They do add to the local ecomomy.

Here’s how my library works: each library branch has some computers that are dedicated solely to searching the catalog, and you don’t need a library card to use these. You do need a library card to use the full-service patron computers (you use your library card number to log into the computer) or to reserve a computer if all of them are currently in use. You don’t need to be a resident to get a library card (we’ve issued library cards to people from as far away as Paris, France, who were visiting and wanted to use our services). You do need an ID to get a library card, but it doesn’t have to be current–the library card will be “unverified” until we’re shown a valid ID or official piece of mail with your current address. An “unverified” card limits the number of items you can check out, and you can’t put holds on items, but it doesn’t limit your computer access at all. We try to make it easy, for residents and non-residents, to use our services, but yeah, we still have a few roadblocks.

On the tax-paying front…if I’m visiting a town or city and I’m mugged in a police department’s jurisdiction, I’ll get the same service from the police as a local resident, won’t I? Besides, don’t tourists generally shop, paying sales tax that goes into local coffers?

Recently I traveled to our largest state university to do some research. Of course, getting books was super simple. But then I wanted to browse some databases that they had. This library only had six computers for public use (in a fairly large town, no less) and one was out-of-order. Additionally, it seemed that they had picked the most uncomfortable high stools and tables for these computers. The furniture and computers provided for those affiliated with the university were much nicer.

But six computers? Come on! As a student at another university and a tax payer in the state (whose taxes support all the universities, this one included), I was quite appalled. At least where I work, we are willing to log people in as guests on our computer with no explanation needed other than that they happen to be here on campus for some reason.

Seems like with so much yapping about access, the whole computer thing is all about limiting access to a certain group. Who cares where you from? It’s a public space! And some places are also getting federal dollars to provide some of that internet access or to provide computers for use.

It’s just one way that libraries can appear unfriendly. Joe Schmoe off the street doesn’t care about our reasons. All he cares about is being able to check his email or find directions to the nearest restaurant.

RE: Fire and police, not to justify that decision, it was a case of them going outside of their jurisdiction not refusing to deal with someone who is in their jurisdiction but not resident in the jurisdiction as libraries will do.

This case actually did come up in Maricopa County Arizona. A fire crew refused to assist in a house fire because he was in a county island and not in the jurisdiction. They just let it burn to the ground. It made the news.

We have a problem with computers getting clogged during winter visitor season, but we set-up wireless internet and ended up expanding access by tripling the amount of computers (they are still clogged though Winter visitors get free cards. Guests get charged $2 which does pay for the piece of plastic.

The tax thing is a tough one. Reciprocal borrowing agreements come into play here. Anyone in the county can use our library or any library. Imagine if you had an agreement statewide? Then taxes wouldn’t be such an issue and anyone can get a card anywhere. It isn’t so much the argument that we don’t get your taxes, but that libraries agree that if your patron borrows from our library, our patrons can borrow from yours. The immediate reaction to that position is that bigger systems would cry that their resources are being drained and that their taxpayers pay more for their services than yours do.