Library district approves increased user fees for meeting, performance spaces

The economy may have tanked in the fourth quarter of 2007, but the effects are still reverberating through the community. Its latest sucker punch: skyrocketing user fees for meeting and performance space at libraries.

On April 14, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s Board of Trustees voted to revise its policies and fee structures for conference rooms and p erforming a rts c enters. The changes went into effect the next day.

Cost recovery under the former policy was 19 percent. It’s now 100 percent.

The 19 percent rates had been in place since 1994. Robb Morss, library district deputy director, said the district has been looking for ways to cut costs for three years.

“Do we just close down the facilities or are there folks out there who could afford the spaces? … we’re not looking to make a profit, just recover our costs,” he said.

The new fee will heavily impact clubs and groups that meet at the libraries and those who book the Summerlin Library’s Performing Arts Center, 1771 Inner Circle Drive.

Signature Productions puts on community theater performances and regularly uses the Summerlin theater . After its contract expires, Signature president and founder Karl Larsen said it may not renew.

“They’re killing the only people bringing in money for them,” he said of the library district. “It’s not like they’re making a lot off of overdue books.”

Carole Altman produces “I Know I Came Here … for Something,” a musical about growing older, and has looked into booking it at various community venues. She said instead of raising rates, the library should strike a deal to share a percentage of ticket sales.

“To us, it’s a win-win situation if we share the burden,” she said.

The changes to the library district’s policy include:

n No free use for any groups of conference rooms and performing arts centers .

n Conference room fees would increase to $30 per hour.

n All performing arts centers would have a rate of $170 per hour for all users.

n Tech fees would be $40 per hour for uses of eight hours or less and $75 per hour after eight hours of use.

n Security fees would be $15 per hour and $25 per hour if requests for security occur with less than 72 hours notice.

n Dark day and storage fees would be $100 per day for all runs over two weeks.

n The user who assumes responsibility for reserving a conference room or performing arts center must have a library card in good standing.

Groups with current bookings in library d istrict spaces will be honored at the rates established under the former policy.

Contact Summerlin and Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.