Casey Library Board Votes to Maintain $70 Non-Resident Fee

Casey Township Library Board of Trustees Meeting | October 2, 2025

Article Summary: The Casey Township Library Board of Trustees voted on Thursday to keep the annual fee for a non-resident library card at $70. The decision ensures that individuals living outside the library’s tax-supported district contribute an equitable amount for access to library services.

Casey Library Non-Resident Fee Key Points:

• The board approved keeping the non-resident library card fee at $70 per year.

• The motion was made by trustee Sharon Durham following a discussion among board members.

• Non-resident fees are a standard practice for Illinois libraries to cover costs for patrons who do not pay property taxes to the library district.

The Casey Township Library Board of Trustees on Thursday, October 2, 2025, affirmed its policy on non-resident fees, voting to maintain the annual cost for a library card at $70 for individuals living outside the library’s taxing district.

Librarian Gretchen Murphy presented the issue to the board, which prompted a discussion among the trustees about the fee. Following the deliberation, trustee Sharon Durham made a motion to keep the price for a non-resident card at the current $70 level. The motion was seconded and carried.

Public libraries in Illinois are primarily funded by property taxes collected from residents within a specific geographic boundary. The non-resident fee is designed to allow individuals from outside this district to access the library’s collection and services by paying a fee that is calculated to be comparable to what taxpayers contribute. This ensures that all users contribute fairly to the library’s operational budget, which covers staffing, materials, and programming.

The decision was made during the new business portion of the meeting, which was attended by trustees Karen Bradford, Shelley Crouch, Sharon Durham, Shawn Huisinga, Susie Mathews, and Chrissy Squires. The board’s vote solidifies the fee structure for the upcoming year, providing clarity for both the library staff and the public.