AUSTIN, Texas — People who live in unincorporated areas around Austin will no longer be required to pay a fee for an Austin Public Library card.
Last week, the Austin City Council voted to remove the $120 fee at the recommendation of the library commission. Members of the commission said that the Austin Public Library "is committed to equity, which includes removing barriers that prevent access to the library’s resources and services."
The move was pushed by Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes (District 2), who cited Austin's constant rising costs as forcing people to relocate outside the city limits, making them ineligible for a library card.
“Right now, our libraries truly serve as everything. They are the community hubs … It is where people go for shelter. They serve as a warming center, or place to go for telemedicine, or you can get trained on how to use the internet. There are just so many programs and services,” Fuentes said.
The move is aimed at assisting people who live in Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction, which is classified as an unincorporated 5-mile land radius that extends into Travis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties.
According to Fuentes, expanding access to library cards could help more people get access to Austin’s enhanced library card program. An enhanced library card can be used as a form of ID, which can be helpful for the homeless population or migrants who either don't have or can't obtain an ID. Fuentes said to be eligible for an enhanced library card, someone must first have a traditional one.
The ordinance is set to become official in March.