STTE SHOULD CLOSE BOOK ON LAW LIMITING LIBRARIES

You can't always judge a book by its cover. But no matter how you read it, Missouri's 26-year-old state law that prohibits cities from expanding library districts beyond their 1965 boundaries is a law that doesn't make much sense.

It doesn't make much sense to city library directors in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, nor to state Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau, who plans legislation to rescind the antiquated state law.

The Cape Girardeau City Council has also gone on record in support of repealing the state law.

As it now stands, state law prohibits city libraries like Cape Girardeau's from collecting tax revenue from residents annexed into the city since 1965.

The result is that some city residents in Cape Girardeau and Jackson are paying taxes that go to support the Riverside Regional Library rather than their own city libraries.

Yet, Cape Girardeau residents, who are not in the city library district, are still making use of the Cape Girardeau Public Library. And why not? It doesn't make sense for a Cape Girardeau resident to travel to Jackson just to use the library when there is a good library right here.

Cape Girardeau library officials certainly understand that. The library, in fact, waives non-resident library fees for Cape Girardeau residents who live outside the library district boundaries. Non-residents who work in Cape Girardeau are also allowed to use the facilities at no extra charge.

Allowing cities to expand their library district boundaries would result in added revenue that would allow city libraries in Missouri to meet rising administrative and book costs.

The Jackson city library could gain $17,000 annually in new revenue from such a move, while Cape Girardeau's library could receive another $7,500 annually in tax receipts.

The current law shackles city libraries, which must try to meet the needs of ever-expanding constituencies while being artificially restrained from expanding their tax base.

Supporters of regional libraries say the state law is vital for proper funding of such libraries. Riverside Regional Library, for example, serves rural communities in Perry, Scott and Cape Girardeau counties.

Admittedly, repeal of the law would mean reduced funding for regional libraries. But it might ultimately lead to stronger municipal libraries, which could offer expanded services for both urban and rural patrons.

And it might also prompt greater cooperation between regional libraries and city libraries, which could benefit us all.

Missouri lawmakers should close the book on the current law and write a law that will allow libraries to expand and grow. We should allow our libraries to keep up with the times, in both services and service areas.