Duchesne County Library Board debates waiving fees, balancing access and accountability

At its April 21 meeting in Roosevelt, the Duchesne County Library Board discussed whether the library should waive or reduce charges for patrons who face economic barriers, with the director defending existing discretion for branch managers and a board member questioning whether waivers undercut accountability.

Director Daniel Markley said the system no longer charges routine late fines but does pursue lost-item charges after staff have attempted to contact patrons and provided warnings. "If it's an item that isn't in demand, it was a book that nobody cared about for five years ... we're not gonna really pursue it," Markley said, adding that "if anything, we can always reduce their access" for patrons who repeatedly fail to return high-demand materials.

Board member Jesse Walker said he was concerned about the educational effect of waiving fees: "If they're struggling financially, homeless, marginalized communities ... then we should not be charging these fees to them. But then what are you teaching them if they don't have accountability?" Walker asked, pressing how the board balances compassion with responsibility.

Markley described practical compromises his staff use. Branch managers may offer payment plans, accept partial payments, allow limited checkouts during a probationary period, or — in rare cases — fully waive fees based on ability to pay. "Most of the time people respond well to that," he said, describing instances when patrons arrange a payment and later return to normal borrowing privileges. He stressed that staff aim to preserve access while protecting the collection and handling high-demand items more strictly.

The board also highlighted nonfee accommodations for patrons with housing instability: members praised the library's homeless patron card and noted steps such as installing additional air filtration in branches. "We are fairly lenient on what personal belongings are allowed ... as long as they're not dangerous," Markley said, noting outreach work and flexible practices to reduce barriers to use.

No formal policy change or vote on waivers was taken during the meeting; the conversation was framed as part of ongoing board training and operational practice. Board members encouraged continued review of best practices and requested staff keep the board informed about how waiver decisions and probationary access are applied across branches.

The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for May 12 at 4:30 p.m. at the Roosevelt Library.