County Libraries Delay User Fee

Spokane residents who use county libraries can put away their checkbooks, at least for another month.

For years, the city and county library systems operated virtually as one. That ended Jan. 1, when city libraries started charging county residents for cards. County library trustees vowed to return the slap on March 1.

The trustees recently decided to wait until April 1 to charge city residents so they can consider ways to give children free access.

Teachers in schools near the city limits complain the turf battle means students who live on the wrong side of the line can’t use the closest libraries without paying a fee.

Spokane’s non-resident library cards range from $10 for three months of limited use to $100 for a year of full service. The county district plans to charge $55 a year, the same fee it charges residents of other counties.