Agenda

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C. 49

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Alison McKee, County Librarian
Date:	March 1, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Adjustment to Schedule of Fines & Charges for the Contra Costa County Library

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/01/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Walt Beveridge 925-608-7730

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 1, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Librarian to adjust the Library schedule of fines and charges to permanently waive print charges for the first ten pages of black and white prints from public computing stations at County Libraries, effective March 1, 2022.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No impact to the General Fund. The Library budget will be adjusted to reflect the estimated reduction in revenue of $20,000 due to the elimination of print charges.

BACKGROUND:

The County Librarian and County Library Commission are recommending changes to the library fines and charges schedule policy. The County Librarian requests the Board of Supervisors to adopt the new Contra Costa County Library Fines and Charges Schedule that will no longer include charges for the first ten (10) pages of black and white prints from public computing stations. Black and white printing of 11 or more pages will continue to be $.15 per page. Color printing will continue to be $.50 per page and will apply to all pages printed.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

On October 13, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved a waiver of print charges on a limited basis for the duration of the Public Health Emergency. The program allowed the public to email documents to library staff to print or to bring documents to the library to be scanned and printed. The service was limited to 10 black and white double-sided pages per day, per person. The program fulfilled a community need of providing printing and scanning of documents. The pilot program was launched in communities with high need: Antioch, Bay Point, Concord, Hercules, Pittsburg, and San Pablo. After a successful test, the program was expanded to all libraries.

The Library proposes making this permanent in the Library Schedule of Fines & Charges effective March 1, 2022.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Contra Costa County residents, especially those in low income areas, who do not have access to a printers will experience significant barriers to having their documents printed.