October 21, 2008

Flagler seeks library pact with St. Johns By HEATHER SCOFIELD Staff Writer

PALM COAST -- Flagler County residents have always been able to check out books from libraries in neighboring St. Johns County without paying a fee.
Until a few months ago, that is.

The economic downturn, housing market meltdown and subsequent loss of property tax revenues in Florida counties has left libraries and other government-supported agencies around the state scrambling to find new ways to stay afloat, said Flagler County Library Director Holly Albanese.

For the St. Johns County Library system, that meant a new era of charging out-of-county residents for their St. Johns County library card.

But many Flagler residents depend on St. Johns' libraries for services and materials they can't get in Flagler's small system, Albanese said.

"Flagler residents have always enjoyed reciprocal borrowing privileges in St. Johns County," Albanese said. And she wants to keep it that way, Albanese said.

In a meeting Monday, Flagler County commissioners agreed to sign an agreement with St. Johns officials that would keep the neighborly generosity flowing between the counties, with residents of each county able to get free library cards in the two counties.

The Flagler County library system consists of one major library in Palm Coast and a satellite branch in Bunnell that only operates a few days per week. So residents often depend on the larger, neighboring county library systems to meet their needs when Flagler can't. And an August voter referendum that would've protected or even expanded library services in the county in light of recent budget woes was shot down, so officials aren't sure when the funds will be available for library system improvements, County Administrator Craig Coffey said.

"It makes keeping these types of arrangements more important," Coffey said.
More than 41,000 registered borrowers utilize Flagler County libraries, some of whom are St. Johns County residents, Albanese said.

And while Flagler's neighbors can still get a Flagler County Library Card without charge, Coffey said the library is looking to recoup some of its budget losses from the last few years in part through a new service that would provide passport photos to residents who require them.

heather.scofield@news-jrnl.com
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newFLAG01102108.htm