All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Richland's new library fee imposed on nonresidents is keeping half the outsiders away. The number of book checkouts by people who don't live in Richland plummeted last month by 51 percent from May 1997. Overall, because of the drop in nonresident use, total circulation dropped by 14 percent last month from May 1997.
People come in every day disappointed to find they are required to pay the fee to check out books.
We've had them get verbally abusive to the staff. The library has about 17,600 card holders who don't live in Richland. Richland property owners, students and teachers in Richland schools and people who volunteer 10 or more hours per month at the library are exempt. It still is free for anyone to use the library. The fee only applies if materials are checked out.