The Chillicothe Public Library Board of Trustees approved the decision to put a Referendum on the November 5, 2024 ballot. The question, posed to those within the Chillicothe Public Library District, asks if the current General Fund tax rate, set in 1992, be established at .25% instead of .15%.
A “yes” vote will support providing necessary revenue to offset capital repair projects to the HVAC, guttering system, and flooring repairs. It will allow the library to consider increasing hours of operation, along with being able to provide more loanable materials, free programs, and business services for the community.
This slight increase, for most homeowners, will equate to less than $0.30 per day!
Investing in your library means investing in your community. Public libraries not only help create more literate, civil societies; they provide real economic value. For example, by providing loanable materials, computers and technologies, programming, and outreach services Chillicothe Public Library District generated $1,581,068.25 of value* in the last fiscal year. This equates to a direct economic benefit to the community of $2.13 for every $1.00 the library spent.
A “yes” vote would also help the library expand their collections, and provide more public programs. As many know, the library is a hub for community engagement, education, and enrichment. From July 2023 – June 2024, Chillicothe Public Library District provided 627 free public programs for children, teens and adults that were attended by 8,691 people. Events included author talks, concerts, cooking instruction, crafting, current event lecture series, computer and technology classes, seasonal markets, and fantastic summer reading activities!
Did you know that the library also provides services like printing, laminating, and license plate renewals along with free notary and exam proctoring services? Additionally, they provide free study rooms and Wi-Fi – accessible from the parking lot 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
The Chillicothe Public Library District takes great pride in providing these exceptional services to our communities, and appreciate the strong support from those served. Voting “yes” to the Referendum ensures that the library is able to continue evolving and meeting the needs of the community, well into the future.
Questions or comments regarding the upcoming Referendum can be sent to Mary Aylmer, Director, Chillicothe Public Library District at maylmer@chillipld.org or by phone at 309-274-2719.
The library encourages everyone to exercise their rights, and vote on November 5, 2024!
*Calculated using the I Love Libraries Value Calculator. An initiative of the American Library Association.