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Little Elm library proposes second notary, $5 public fee to reduce walk-in demand
Summary
Library staff told the Little Elm Town Council workshop the library is overwhelmed with notarization requests and recommended adding another staff notary, doubling weekly appointment capacity and charging $5 per public notarization while keeping town business free.
A library staff member told the Little Elm Town Council workshop that the town library is receiving frequent walk-in requests for notarizations and is proposing a second staff notary and a modest public fee to reduce last-minute demand.
The presenter said the library currently offers free notary service but has only one notary on staff and operates by appointment. Between June 2024 and late May 2025 the library listed about 312 available notary hours and booked 87 appointments, a utilization rate the presenter described as “approximately 60%.” The presenter recommended adding another staff notary to expand appointments from about eight to 16 per week and charging $5 per notarization for the public; notarizations for town business would remain free.
The presenter compared local private costs, saying FedEx charges about $25, UPS about $6 and a nearby provider about $10. The library also reported roughly half of notary requests came from Little Elm residents and half from nonresidents. The presenter characterized the proposal as treating notary work similarly to other paid library business services such as printing.
Council members asked whether the town had considered different rates for residents and nonresidents; the presenter said the staff recommendation did not differentiate by residency and emphasized the proposed $5 fee would still be below market rates. A council member asked whether revenue would be available to the library; staff said the fees would go into the town’s general fund and that current library revenues (for example printing) are handled through the same cashiering system.
No formal council action was recorded on the proposal during the workshop; staff presented the recommendation for council consideration and discussion.
The library staff summary included these operational details: one dedicated notary on staff, appointment-only scheduling with frequent no-shows, an observed pattern of residents requesting immediate, same-day notarization, and the option for patrons to use banks or private providers at higher cost.
