Universal Library Card

Universal Card for all Libraries
By: Mark Beaton
Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation
http://www.radioowensound.com/news.php?id=9568

Marzio Apolloni is the director of the Bruce County Public Library in Ontario. He is currently requesting that a universal library card be issued to all Ontario residents that would give all members access to all public libraries in Ontario. Mark Beaton, the author of the article, records Apolloni as reporting that "the more libraries try to diversify the services they provide, the more they become attractive to their users... [and] libraries are becoming more active in economic development and tourism."

Although the idea seems convenient and as though it would universally accepted, Apolloni also reports that all the libraries in Ontario would need to change their data systems in order to accommodate the membership changes.

It is also recorded in the article that Ontario will not be the first province in Canada to initiate a universal library card and that several states in the US also have a universal library card.

There may be several states in the US that have issued universal library cards; however, North Carolina is not one of them. As I understand, there are universal library cards per county, but they do not extend past the county lines. I grew up in Onslow County, but have frequently spent time in Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick Counties. Because my library card is for Onslow County, if I were to choose to live in Wilmington after graduation, I would have to apply for a New Hanover County library card. The concept of a state-wide library card is an excellent idea. Why not even make it country-wide? When on vacation or visiting friends or relatives, why shouldn't all Americans have access to all US libraries?