Membership and Fees

There are two forms of membership available in CAMLS: full voting membership and associate membership. Libraries may have full voting status in only one Regional Library System.Associate members pay the same fees and are accorded the same privileges except they may not hold a voting position on the Board of Trustees. All member libraries are able to give input into CAMLS plans, programs, and services. Any public, academic, special or school library may apply for membership in the system. Members provide free interlibrary loans to each other with the exception of several contracting libraries.

CAMLS is funded by local membership fees and state general revenues administered by the State Library of Ohio. CAMLS continually evaluates the appropriateness of membership fees in order to provide an equitable distribution of costs. There are a variety of cost effective services offered to members because of our group buying power and cooperative efforts.

Effective July 1, 2000, the following formulas will take effect for determining a member library's Membership Assessment:
a. Assessment for libraries with budgets under $500,000 is $650.
b. Assessment for libraries with budgets over $33,333,333 is $20,000.
c. Assessment for school libraries increases $25 at each level with a minimum of $650.
d. Assessment for libraries with budgets of $500,000-33,333,333 multiplier is calculated upon the most recent completed fiscal year, as reported to the State Library of Ohio, and is determined by size of operating budget.
e. Assessment for special libraries is based on the same fiscal year as item d.

Operating Budget Membership Assessment

< $500,000 $650 minimum
$500,001 - 1,999,999 .13%
$2,000,000 - 3,225,000 .125%
$3,225,001 - 8,000,000 .10%
8,000,001 - 12,000,000 .09%
$12,000,001 - 15,000,000 .075%
$15,000,001 - 20,000,000 .07%
$20,000,001 - 33,333,333 .06%
> $33,333,333 $20,000

Total Students - District Membership Assessment

Less than 1,500 $ 650
1,501 - 3,000 $ 675
3,001 - 6,000 $ 725
6,001 - 12,000 $ 775
12,000 - up $ 1,075