Library dispute continues

GREEN BAY - The billing dispute between Outagamie and Brown County libraries is far from over with barely three weeks to resolve it.

What looked like a potential agreement has taken yet another turn, and it could soon impact who can check out books where. 

For now, come January 1st, the Appleton Library will stop lending to Brown County residents.

And three other Outagamie County libraries may follow suit.

"We know we provide equivalent service," explained Appleton Library director Colleen Rortvedt. "We can use their library and they can use our library and so we believe that kind of serves as credit for the use that the bill represents."

Earlier this year, Brown County's library sent bills to neighboring communities for use by non-Brown County residents.

Under state law, the Brown County library can do that, since it's a consolidated system.

Officials say the money is needed in order to keep libraries open.

Outagamie County's bill was $33,000.

In turn, four Outagamie County libraries said they would stop serving Brown County residents, if the bills were not thrown out.

Brown County Library had asked Appleton and the others to hold off on the January 1st deadline to try to negotiate a deal.

But the Appleton Library voted no on Tuesday.

"It is the end of the year and its tough timing for people, but the timing isn't there because of a lack of effort, we've been trying to work on it for quite awhile," Rortvedt said.

"I am disappointed Appleton didn't honor our request," said Brown County Library Board president Terry Watermolen.

Despite the differences in opinion now, both sides do hope a resolution can be reached.

But unfortunately, Watermolen doesn't see that happening before the end of the year.

"We're trying to understand Outagamie County's position, we certainly want to be fair, both in our fiduciary responsibilities of the Brown County taxpayers paying for our libraries and to the other county users," Watermolen explained. "I do anticipate this will be a continuing project to work on."

However, at least one Brown County Board member wants the bills withdrawn and a deal reached.

"The last thing we want is libraries fighting with each other, whether they'll serve each others constituents or not. I feel it went too far already," said Brown County supervisor Guy Zima.

The other three Outagamie County libraries plan to vote on the deadline extension later this month.

It looks as though Brown County's Education and Recreation Committee will discuss the billing issue Thursday night.