In the library system I work for, we charge a fee for music CDs, DVDs and bestsellers. This rental service is very well accepted and well used by patrons. $5 charge for bestsellers is still small compared to purchasing a newly released book. It is believed that charges on such items are easily justifiable. However, if the library charges a fee for borrowing books and magazines, it will be a completely different story. Charging a fee for core library services in public libraries is a controversial issue especially in a time of economic difficulties. Then what are core library services? Who will decide which is core or more core services of the library?
Public libraries are the place where people can access information and knowledge for free regardless of their socio-economic status. Public library services support school education and offer opportunities for life-long learning. I strongly feel that freedom of access to information is a basic right in information age. Charging fees for services and by doing so blocking already disadvantaged people from access to information cannot be justified in any way.
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