North Utah County library patrons have responded positively since the inter-library agreement took affect July 1.

Each director from Eagle Mountain, Lehi, American Fork and Pleasant Grove was pleased with the results saying the process has gone as they hoped.

"It hasn't been that overwhelming," said Kristi Seely, Lehi Library director. "It's only been a few a day ... As far as I know it's just gone smoothly. We haven't any problems."

She said her library has had people from all the different libraries, and the response from patrons has been favorable.

"They love being able to use all of the libraries," she said. Most of the outside patrons using the system are residents on the east border of Lehi from Highland or American Fork or from nonresidents who work in Lehi.

American Fork Library director Sheena Parker said her library has seen 224 new registered borrowers since the first of July.

"I think that we expected there was going to be a goodly number that were going to take advantage of it. It hasn't been a surprise," Parker said. "It's gone well."

Even Eagle Mountain City Public Library has seen patrons travel into Cedar Valley to use her facility.

"We have actually had patrons from the Lehi Library come out here for books," said director Michele Graves. "I think what it is that the new releases out here have a shorter wait list."

A few patrons have come in from the surrounding area and gotten their library card at Eagle Mountain's library so they could use the inter-library system. Those whose home library is the Eagle Mountain library pay $40 to participate at other libraries in American Fork, Lehi and Pleasant Grove.

"We've had some, not very many, of our patrons decide to participate -- a handful or two," Graves said. "Which is a good thing for us, because it lets me know that we are doing the right thing here. We're keeping up with the popular demand."

Harrison said there are couple of small issues about the system that need to be addressed. The library directors will meet at the end of the year to access and tweak, if need be, the program.

Parker said mostly there are software issues that need to be fixed so the program works better.

For example, programming on the system for the Lehi Library continues to be a problem. Each library purchased software so librarians could be on the same system and automatically know if a nonresident patron was in good standing with their home library before using another library's services in north Utah County. All work but Lehi's.

The company who provided the program is working on a solution and librarians phone home libraries for verification of a patron's good standing instead.

Community notes

Highland

Child care available -- Day care is available for children who live in the community at Camelot Kids Daycare at Lone Peak High School. Residents looking for a fun and comfortable environment for their child can contact Becky Cox at 717-4568, extension 507.

Awning signs discussed -- The Highland sign ordinance does not allow awning signs. There are presently two businesses in the city who have such awnings. An amendment to the ordinance was discussed at the Aug. 12 Highland Planning Commission. The general consensus of the panel was to allow the signs but limit them so they would not be adjacent to each other and only so many would be allowed in any one business area.

Lonnie Crowell, Highland's zoning administrator said he would write up a draft ordinance for the commission to look at to that effect.

Scout project helps trees -- The Cedar Hills Parks & Trails Committee has expressed appreciation to Devin McGhie, and his Eagle Scout project surveying all of the trees in city parks for missing corrugated bands. These bands cover the base of younger trees, protecting the bark and trunks from deer and lawn mowing equipment. Devin outfitted 108-plus trees with these protective bands.

Scouts do ID kits -- Caden Neiders and his crew of volunteers completed 84 K-ID identification cards at the Family Festival for his Eagle Scout project. The booth had four stations -- questionnaire; photo, weight, and height; fingerprinting; and laminating. Many friends helped with service hours and donations to make this a success. Cedar Hills has thanked him for his work.