|
The Greene County Public Library Levy is a 1 mil, 5-year operating levy that expires in 2010. The renewal levy will be placed on the ballot Tues., November 3, 2009 as issue 7.
Renewal will maintain community support for the Library at 2005 levels, and will not increase taxes.
Frequently Asked Levy Questions
What is the library levy?
The Greene County Public Library Levy is a 1 mil, 5-year operating levy that expires in 2010. Renewal will maintain community support for the Library at 2005 levels, and will not increase taxes.
Why is the library a sound investment of taxpayer money?
The Nine Libraries study showed that Southwestern Ohio’s Libraries provide a return on investment of 381% to our taxpayers. This means for every dollar taxpayers invest in the library, they receive nearly $4 in return through the goods and services provided by the library.
Why is the library important?
The Greene County Public Library benefits the community by:
- Providing opportunities for early literacy. Our children’s programs develop reading skills that help kids perform better in school. In 2008, we presented 1,685 programs attended by 43,852 children and adults. We also made over 300 visits to Greene County schools.
- Promoting lifelong learning. Greene County citizens visited our libraries over 1.2 million times and checked out over 2.9 million items last year. Through partnerships with other libraries around the world, we provide access to over 5 million items. Libraries provide unlimited opportunities to discover, learn and grow for people of all ages.
- Improving quality of life for the homebound. The Library helped the homebound stay connected to the rest of the world by delivering 23,000 items to homebound patrons in 2008. Having personal contact with our staff is a bright spot in the day of our homebound patrons, and the materials we provide help exercise the mind, especially during long periods of illness.
- Providing computer resources. Greene County residents used our Internet connection over 175,000 times in 2008 to write resumés, apply for jobs, and stay connected with friends and family. Patrons saved time and money by requesting and renewing over 450,000 items via our website in 2008.
How much will the levy cost me?
Renewal of the levy will not increase taxes. The cost to a homeowner is just $30.63 per year for a home valued at $100,000 by the county auditor. That’s less than 60 cents per week - about the cost of a candy bar. ($2.55 per month.)
How will levy funds be used?
The levy funds the operation of the library system in Greene County, consisting of locations in Beavercreek, Bellbrook, Cedarville, Fairborn, Jamestown, Xenia and Yellow Springs. The levy also funds:
- purchasing books, videos, audio books, magazines, newspapers
- sustaining programs for children, teens and adults
- providing library services for people who are disabled or in nursing homes
- supplying computers for writing resumés, Internet access and the library catalog
Is this more money than the library is now receiving?
No. The funds will maintain community support for the Library at 2005 levels, and will not increase taxes. Although the Library has experienced a dramatic decrease in State funding – nearly $1.2 million a year since 2001 – the Library is not asking the community for additional tax support during these hard economic times. Like Greene County’s voters, we are making hard choices to survive the difficult times without requesting additional local community funding. Passage of the renewal levy remains key to helping the Library continue its services until the economy recovers.
- The average cost of a library item is $18.
- A typical patron borrows 34 items per a year.
- That's a total savings of $612 a person!
Calculate your own library savings »
Libraries - Vital to Our Community
|
About the Library