Those who use the service of the library should pay for it

Published on Page 2 in the August 7, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life:

By Mark Hinkle

The Library Authority is asking voters for a $6,200,000 tax to support public libraries throughout Santa Clara County, including in Morgan Hill. Is there an alternative?

There is no question that libraries provide a service to many people in Santa Clara County. The question is: who should pay for it? Would you visit a restaurant, order dinner, and then expect passersby to pay for your food? No, that would be ridiculous. People who frequent restaurants are expected to pay for the food they consume. So, why should libraries be any different?

The answer is clear: they shouldn’t. So why do we expect every taxpayer to pay for a service used by only a fraction of people?

Libraries are a service, just like any other. We should expect and demand that those who use the service pay the full cost. In fact, the library has started doing just that: users who live outside the district are charged an $80 annual fee. Why force people who never use the libraries to pay for them? Isn’t that just another “special interest” government subsidy? Yes, it is. Every other service business must compete in the marketplace to gain and keep customers. And because they have competitors, they have an incentive to keep prices low. They also have an incentive to provide good customer service; otherwise, they’ll lose business.

Do the libraries have the same incentive? No! The tax money they receive allows them to be non-competitive. Do they have an economic incentive to provide good customer service? Again, no. Are you going to take your library business to their competitors?
Many people are. Witness the growth of online purchases of books delivered directly to your doorstep and the dramatic growth of e-books, delivered to your computer, smartphone or tablet.

It’s time for voters to send a message to the county libraries: stand on your own two feet. If libraries are truly the valued service they claim, they’ll have no trouble keeping customers. However, they will have to compete — just like everyone else. And without tax subsidies, they will have an incentive to keep costs low and to provide good customer service.

Isn’t that what we want?

Mark Hinkle is the president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association.