Lib Politics Rodeo October 28, 2014

Welcome to the Lib Politics Rodeo. Every Tuesday we will round up the previous week’s news on library politics and highlight some of the things that we are following or reading. Here’s what we have in our lassos this week…

News

Addison and Oxford Townships (MI) are  back on the ballot for November 4th. Both townships had levies that did not pass in the August 5th election. In Addison voters are being asked to approve a 10 year, 0.20 millage increase that would help the library maintain its hours and staffing. If the millage increase does not pass in this election, the library may close one day per week to save money. Oxford has a 0.4518 mill on the ballot. If it does not pass on this second try, the board has already voted to close the library on Sundays.

Voters who live within the Flanagan community inside Livingston County (MI) will determine if they will fund their own library on November 4th.  The ballot measure is for a 25 cents per $100 of assesed property value and is expected to raise $100,000 per year for the library. The State Bank has already donated a building. Also residents of Columbia Heights (MN) will vote next Tuesday on a ballot measure for a new library. They have outgrown their 13,000 square foot building built in the 1960’s and they have been anticipating upgrades since the building was last assessed in 1999. The up to $7 million dollars in 20 year bonds would be funded through additional property taxes. The planned 22,000 square foot building would have more computer terminals, sitting areas, more parking, and private study spaces.

On May 5, 2015 Louisville (OH) will have a 1-mill tax renewal on the ballot. This levy generates $314,796 per year for the library. It was a new tax in 2010. The Louisville public library is just one of the numerous statewide libraries that have had to secure local funding due to recent declines in State funding. This is a must win for Louisville.

Join EveryLibrary California and EveryLibrary National at the CLA pre-party fundraiser this Friday November 7th. Hang out with Board Members, network with conference attendees, and enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the Oakland Public Library. Tickets are $20 and include your drinks and hors d'oeuvres for the night. Your money will go toward making 2015 a bigger and better year for us and libraries nationwide. Tickets are on sale now.

We’re pushing the Rodeo next week so we can bring you live coverage of the November 4th elections. Join us on social media starting at 7 pm EST. We’ll be using #librarywatchparty to keep you up to date with results on over 50 library elections we will be tracking.

That’s all for today. Join us next week for another round up. Happy trails!