Robert Repetto: Consider user fees to fund Jones Library project Published: 5/27/2021 8:00:13 PM The Jones Library project is highly controversial but there’s a good way to reconcile people’s differences. Supporters have good arguments that library improvements are a very high priority. Opponents disagree but they’re not necessarily arch-conservatives. Maybe they don’t read that much, or use Kindle, or support our local bookstores (not a bad thing), or use the UMass or Amherst College libraries, which are accessible at no cost to Amherst residents. Or maybe they just believe that taxes are already too high. Rather than continue to fight over it, a better solution would be to let those people who support the project pay for it through user charges; fees for library cards — and maybe late fees — set to raise enough revenue annually to service the added debt. (OK, children could still get cards free.)