This study examines 104 articles on the fee versus free controversy in libraries, written primarily between the years of 1992 and 1997. The content analysis assesses the types of libraries that charges fees--academic, public, school, or special; who is charged--everyone, businesses and their personnel, law firms and lawyers; and what services the libraries charge for--for example, interlibrary loan, document delivery, and online searching. The study examines the country in which each article is based to see if there is greater or lesser concern about the fee versus free issue in certain countries. Public libraries are prevalent chargers and charge all groups of patrons. Patrons are charged most often for online searching and photocopying. Most libraries that charge fees are responding to difficulties with providing additional services that customers demand, but that budget authorities are often unwilling or unable to fund. There is no such thing as "free" library service--almost everyone pays some sort of tax in support of the general operation of their library. Appendices include a coding categories key, a coding sheet, content analysis data, and citations for the articles examined. (Contains 14 references.) (SWC)