Reaffirmed by the PLA Board Midwinter, 2000. Public Library Association Public Libraries have long faced the challenge of meeting their mission within the restraints of limited revenue. Each public library must make its own decision about fees. Some libraries are finding it necessary to respond to governing authorities' demand for revenue generation. Fees have been considered for enhancing locally determined basic levels of service and augmenting limited resources.
Public libraries provide locally identified basic services that are free and available to all users.
Libraries that cooperate and share resources are better able to meet the needs of users. As part of the process of setting fees, public libraries should determine the actual cost of providing services. Public libraries should provide a mechanism to allow for exceptions in applying fees. Fees only provide a small percentage of the total public library budget Fees shall not be established solely on the basis of format. Fees should be retained by the library.