Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Libraries eye raising fees for rooms

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is studying whether it should charge businesses and organizations more to use library meeting areas.

The district currently rents out its 24 conference rooms to commercial and private groups for up to $150 for two hours. Nonprofit, library-sponsored and community interest groups may use the rooms for free up to two times per month, then pay $25 for two hours.

But at existing rates, the district is left spending $550,000 annually to cover the rooms' cost.

The library district is weighing a plan to raise fees to cover some of that, but so far its Board of Trustees is torn.

They say library patrons have a right to use the facilities cheaply, but they also note that money is tight for the district.

Board member Mel Pohl said that he does not want to raise fees to unaffordable levels. But, "to be paying more for services than we're charging for simply doesn't make sense to me," he said.

The district charges groups -- nonprofits and commercial groups alike -- $10 per hour for security, when the actual wage for a security guard is $15 per hour, and $12 per hour for technical services, when actual wages are up to $30 per hour.

However, groups who currently use the meeting rooms said they can't afford to pay more.

Nevada Home Schools, a nonprofit organization run by Gina Anderson, would not be able to afford its annual graduation ceremony at Whitney Library if fees were increased, Anderson said.

"We almost opted out of the ceremony this year because of the costs," Anderson said. "We pass the plate at the end of each ceremony, but last year, we only gathered $20."

Rachelle Sallee, who directs Classical Kids, a for-profit song and dance group, began renting the West Las Vegas Library theater when she could no longer afford to rent a performance area at UNLV.

Sallee estimated that each of her shows costs up to $400, which she said is all she can afford since she pays out of her own pocket.

"I really hope they don't raise prices because we won't have a venue (in which) to perform," Sallee said.

Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, said that she applauds the district's efforts to review the $500,000 in costs, which she said could be spent on other library services, including the purchase of additional books. But she is also concerned that, by raising fees, the district might actually discourage renters from using the rooms, which would mean even larger expenses.

"I am concerned that they could turn these groups to other places, and we'd wind up with even less usage," Vilardo said. "Perhaps costs should just be an accepted expenditure."

Rather than raising fees, board member Aldo Aguirre pushed for the board to "strongly encourage" for-profit renters to make donations on top of existing fees.

However, other board members voiced concern that this may be seen as a form of coercion.

Library staff recommended that the board simply continue to charge existing rental fees, but noted that the board can also choose to review technical support and security rates.

Before deciding on a direction, the board of trustees requested that library staff research what types of groups are currently renting library space. The board meets again July 22 at the Las Vegas Library.

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