The financial problems Illinois is experiencing will affect some of the services at the Messenger Library of North Aurora (www.messengepl.org or call 630-896-0240)
Illinois Library Systems are funded by the state. Two of the most important services that they support financially are shared online catalogs, including our Library’s MAGIC catalog, and the delivery of materials between libraries.
The Messenger Public Library of North Aurora is part of the DuPage Library System, http://dupagels.lib.il.us/. The state owes the DuPage Library System more than $440,000 for the 2010 fiscal year, which ended June 30. Because of the long delays in receiving state funds due them, the system has cut services and staff.
With the loss of the DuPage Library System’s financial support for services, the Library will need to cover these expenses itself and perhaps even downsize some services to make them more affordable. The impact on services to patrons could include the following:
- Limits on the number of items that may be borrowed from other libraries.
- A longer waiting period for items requested from other libraries.
- Modification or elimination of special programs such as the Macy’s Museum Adventure Pass program and free Ravinia tickets.
As the Library adapts to the loss of system support, our priorities will be to keep you informed of changes and to minimize their effects on service. Illinois libraries have always been and will continue to be committed to providing the best possible service to our communities
The Dupage Library System Interlibrary Loan, by the numbers . . .
In the 2009 fiscal year, the DuPage Library System delivered more than 1.5 million items.
Cost: 13 cents per item or $200,000 for the year.
If the post office delivered the same number of items …
Cost: $1.90 per item or $2.9 million for the year.
In 2009, using DuPage Library System van delivery saved library users almost $2.8 million.
Kevin Davis, Library Administrator
director@northaurora.lib.il.us
