Dover Public Library propose 1-mil levy in May election
Kyle Valentini
February 7, 2011
255
The Dover Public Library is proposing a 1-mill, five year operating levy. The levy will raise $249,496 annually for the library. The Dover Public Library has never had a levy before.
The State of Ohio has reduced the Dover Librarys share of the Public Library Fund from $778,577 to $568,444 in 2010. Public libraries in Ohio are funded primarily through the Public Library Fund, which receives 2.2% of the state's tax revenue. Since 2001, public library funding has been on the decline. As a result of the current downturn in the economy and decreasing state tax revenues, public libraries are currently experiencing a drop in funding from the Public Library Fund.
The Dover Public Library receives 93% of its total revenue from this fund. The Library is concerned about the estimated $8 billion deficit the State of Ohio is facing in 2011 and how that deficit will affect funding for Ohios public libraries.
A group of nearly forty people gathered Monday evening for their second meeting to discuss the ways the levy can be promoted and awareness raised about the importance of the Library in Dover. Calling themselves Citizens for the Dover Public Library, the group is made up of members of the Friends of the Library, employees of the library, members of the board of trustees for the library and patrons who simply want to help.
If passed, the levy would provide funds to help give the Library financial stability and enable the Library to add thousands of books, DVDs and audio books to its collection. The funds would also allow the library to introduce new formats such as downloadable e-books, educational video games and new computer technology. The library needs these funds to continue current operating hours and levels of service the community has come to expect.
Bob Gerber, president of the library board of trustees says, We need volunteers who are willing to contact residents who have registered to vote early so we can make them aware of the issue. We need people to help with publicity. We have three hundred signs and we need people to put them out in the community.
Citizens for the Dover Public Library has raised over $1000 so far and is using that money to purchase signs and other publicity materials to help raise awareness in the community. Gerber says, We need money to do all the things we need to do. The goal is to raise $3000 to pay for the costs of promoting the levy.
Those in attendance broke up into groups to brainstorm and coordinate a plan to make their volunteer efforts most effective. Fundraising efforts like bake sales, concerts, auctions and raffles were discussed.
In 2010 a total of 307,196 items were circulated through the Library an increase of 38% in the previous year. The Library answered 33,523 reference questions and provided 292 programs for 7,550 people that included children, teens, adults and senior citizens.
Denise Campbell-Johnson, a former librarian in Holmes County lost her job recently because of failed levies. It was rather difficult. We tried so hard to get people to pass the levy. We tried four times. I lost my job because the levy couldnt get passed and budget cuts. Campbell-Johnson was the librarian at Walnut Creek Library for 9 ½ years. She is currently unemployed and helping to promote the Dover Public Library levy through volunteerism.
Registered voters in The City of Dover are eligible to vote for the levy. For a home valued at $100,000, the tax payment would be $35 annually for five years, or $2.91 a month. The levy will be on the ballot Tuesday, May 1st.
Citizens for the Dover Public Library have a web site at www.citizensfordpl.blogspot.com and a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/citizensfordpl.
If you have questions about the levy contact Director Jim Gill at 330-343-6123.
