Library cards from Mahomet and Tolono public libraries will no longer be accepted at the Champaign public library beginning Nov. 1st of this year. To access the library’s materials patrons must now purchase a Champaign card for a $200 annual fee.

This change will be implemented to assist the declining funding and increased usage of the library’s collection, according to a press release from the library. Funding for library materials has declined ten percent over the last two years. The new fee is approximately equal to the amount of property tax in Champaign that goes toward the library.

“We focused on those communities where library card holders are tending to use our library in place of their home library,” said Champaign Library Director Marsha Grove in the press release clarifying that the fee will apply only to libraries in the Lincoln Trail Libraries System.

Grove said she expects less Mahomet and Tolono residents to be using the library in the future. She said an email was sent to those residents to inform them of the upcoming change.

“That’s sort of what we were going for,” Grove said when asked about the declining residents.

Grove said that Champaign holds a large collection, which draws in nearby county residents. This includes Savoy, which is in close proximity to the Champaign public library.