Library fees in effect for out-of-town users

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 2/4/26

In its ongoing quest to stay solvent and operating, the North Bend Library is asking its out-of-town users to chip in.

As of Sunday, Feb. 1, [2026] each family not living in the city of North Bend and wanting to use the library facilities, use the computers, check out a book, puzzle, cake pan, movie, read the newspaper or a magazine, will have to pay an annual fee of $20 per household. That is not $20 per person, but for the whole household, mom, dad all the kids residing in the one household. That is as much as it cost for a family of four go to go to a movie at a theater on special $5 night or to drive through fast food. But then there is the popcorn, candy, pop, you will have to buy that will put you over $20.

Library director Amy Reznicek said there are over 1,000 patrons who use the North Bend Public Library and almost half of them live out-of-town. They are more than welcome and are encouraged to use the North Bend Library. But the people who live in the town of North Bend support the library with their taxes. Those living out of town don’t support the library in any financial way. So the out-of-town residents are being asked to contribute to the care of the library with $20 per year.

The library has been struggling with finances for some time. It has used up all the reserves built up when the 1913 library building was in use. The library board has looked at different ways to raise funds without having to charge people, to no avail.

“Our goal was not to be closed for entire days,” library board president Chris Gross-Rhode said. “We have just enough traffic every day where you know there is a need.”

Money for the library comes from property taxes. Property taxes that are paid twice a year and the library gets 14% of the property tax income, $62,400 total. Of that $62,400, over half goes toward wages.

There are five workers at the library covering the 31 hours a week it is open. That leaves $30,000 left to run programs, pay electricity, maintenance on the building, technology, lawn care, update on new material, mandated security and fire requirements, and pay Reznicek for the paperwork required. Last month the library cut back the hours it is open on Saturdays to save money.

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