Theater groups upset with possible fee increase by library district

The Clark County Library District's recent announcement that it was considering substantially raising fees on, among other things, local stages, produced an outcry from some theater groups. Signature Productions founder Karl Larsen said he didn't think his troupe could survive the additional costs.

Library officials have just announced they will elicit public input on the proposed raises at a Feb. 23 meeting. It's expected that many theater folk will have plenty to say. The additional fees are being considered for all specialized spaces, including meeting rooms, auditoriums, lecture halls and theaters.

A Feb. 10 press release from public relations manager Karen Bramwell Thomas noted, "Currently, the library district operates under a fee schedule that was adopted in 1994. Increasing rental fees to a more relevant and updated fee structure would allow the library district to recoup some of its out-of-pocket costs associated with operating these specialized spaces."

Of course, the question will be how much of a raise can the library live with versus how much local theaters can pay without imploding. Finding an affordable space to perform in is often a local playhouse's primary concern.

The Feb. 23 meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North.