Borough explores running city library

WASILLA -- The city of Wasilla has asked the Mat-Su Borough to take over the operation of its library. This could happen as soon as July 2005 if the borough can overcome a legal roadblock.

The borough has long provided funding assistance for the Wasilla Public Library, but the actual control and daily operations of the facility have always remained city responsibilities.

Borough Manager John Duffy said it is still too early to tell if the transfer will take place. He said the borough's current library powers only extend outside city limits.

"Legally, we cannot run a library within the city," he said. "If it makes sense for the borough to do this, then we would need to find out how you would do this legally."

According to Duffy, the borough might need to bring the issue to a vote in order to change the borough's role from operating as a non-area power -- outside city limits -- to operating within city limits.

Wasilla's Recreation and Cultural Services Manager Bruce Urban said roughly 80 percent of Wasilla Public Library visits are from people living on borough land, outside the city limits.

"It's not that the city doesn't want to be in the library business, but this would be a better mix for the patrons," Urban said. "We just think it's better for libraries."

Ron Swanson, director of the borough's department of community development, agreed.

"It makes sense to consolidate library functions," he said. "If you look at most big governments, you don't have smaller communities running individual libraries."

Swanson said one governing body is more efficient than various small communities running their own libraries. The borough currently operates libraries in Trapper Creek, Talkeetna, Willow, Big Lake and Sutton. Palmer and Wasilla are the only independent, city-operated libraries.

All libraries in the borough, however, are already connected through the borough-run Interlibrary Loan program. ILL makes it possible for libraries to borrow books from one another, thereby making more material available to the public.

Swanson said ILL is more efficient when all libraries run under the same policy.

"There will be a greater opportunity to share resources," he said. "It isn't the borough's intent to take over city libraries. The intent is to provide services, the most efficient way possible.

Swanson said the borough is not letting Wasilla out of its financial responsibility toward the library.

"They still have an obligation, but if we can make things happen sooner by jumping in, then so be it," he said.

According to Alaska State Library statistics, 90,320 people visited the Wasilla Public Library in 2003 -- nearly 10,000 more visitors than in 2001.

Swanson said the borough has more resources to draw from to support the library but the borough assembly would have to give final approval to any funding increases.

In fiscal year 2004, the borough contributed $379,500 toward the library's operation. Wasilla contributed $298,600. While Urban said the overall costs will likely rise over the years, he expects the city's contribution ratio to remain similar. The exact ratio, however, has not been finalized.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.