The Library Sets New Fees; The Opening Date Is Moved

Candace Braun

Due to recent snowstorms leading right up to the first day of spring, the Princeton Public Library has been forced to change the dates of their move to the new building on Witherspoon Street. The library's facility in the Princeton Shopping Center will now close on Sunday, March 28, and the new library's opening is anticipated for Thursday, April 8.

Both dates have been pushed back one week from the library's previous projection. According to Library Director Leslie Burger, everything is "tentative and in flux" at the moment.

"There's still a lot of work that needs to be done," said Ms. Burger. "All our inspections need to be passed before we can receive a certificate of occupancy."

The snow has also been a contributing factor in the delays, she said.

"The weather is a big problem," said Ms. Burger. "We're waiting [for better weather] to have our sidewalks put in."

Ms. Burger said most of the interior of the new $18 million facility is complete, and construction workers are currently finishing up with the first floor.

The library is aiming for an April 8 opening at the moment, but it is still possible that date will change, she said.

New Library Fees

A new fee schedule for the library was approved last week at the March 16 Board of Trustees meeting. Late fees, membership fees, and copying fees have all increased to offset some of the new library's costs.

The library will now charge $1 for the weekly rental of CD-ROMs, while there was no charge at the previous facility. In addition, late fees for children's books have increased to 20 cents per day from 10 cents, with a maximum fee of $10, as opposed to the previous maximum charge of $5. Adult books and music CDs will also have a maximum late fee of $10, up from $7.

The processing fee to replace hardcover books and multimedia has also doubled to $10 from $5, in addition to the cost to the actual purchase price of the item. The processing fee to replace paperback books has increased to $5, from $2, as well.

The cost for a library card for non-residents for one year has increased to $150, from $125. The cost for a card for six months is $90, compared to $80 the previous year, and the cost for one month is $30, compared to $25 in 2003. A senior citizen discount card for non-residents will remain at $50.

The cost for computer printouts has increased to 15 cents from 10 cents, as has the cost for black and white photocopies. Color photocopies will cost 50 cents.

New fees have also been introduced for residents using the new meeting rooms and equipment in those rooms. The cost to use a community room will be $50, and the cost to use a conference room will be $25. To use these facilities after library hours, a charge of $25 per hour will be imposed.

The library will charge $15 for the use of DVD players, VCRs, projectors, laptop computers, overhead projectors, or a sound system.