Bay County Library Seeks Operating Millage Renewal November 2

Current Economic Climate Makes Libraries More Important Than Ever

October 23, 2010       1 Comments
By: Stephen Kent

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On November 2 the Library will ask Bay County residents to renew the current 1 mil operating millage for four years. This funding is essential to the daily operations of the library as it provides 58% of the library system's revenue in 2011.

In a talk to the Bay City Rotary last week Tom Birch, director of the Bay County Library System, noted that Libraries are currently operating on an $600,000 reduction in revenue from a few years ago. At the same time they are experiencing increased demand for services.

In 2006 voters twice twice rejected renewals of 1.2 mills for four years. The result was a dramatic reduction in staff, hours, and services. A year later voters approved a 1 mill request. Some of the staff, hours and services were restored but not to the former level.

In today's economic climate libraries have become more important than ever. Substantially increases in library use, even with the reduced services, supports this.

Book and material check outs are up 45%.
Computer use has increased 77%.
The number of visitors has increased 73%.
39,000 people attended some 1,150 programs.
An average of 1,300 people visit our libraries daily.
The millage request is not an additional tax. It is a renewal. Based on the median market value of a Bay County home that comes out to $40 per year.

Bay County residents were shocked at the severe reduction of services when the millage was rejected in 2006. During 2007, the majority of library staff were laid off, the Sage Branch Library was closed, days and hours open at the Wirt, Pinconning and Auburn were reduced, purchases of library items were cut back, the bookmobile was taken off the road, and all programming and classes were discontinued.

Approval of the millage is strongly supported by people and organizations throughout the community. Every voter counts. MyBayCity.com encourages you to get out on November 2 and vote YES for Libraries.

For more information on library services visit www.baycountylibrary.org

For more information on Mr. Birch's talk read the Rotary Article.


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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

nrpaquet Says:       On October 25, 2010 at 11:41 AM Great article Mr. Kent! Thanks for supporting your libraries, mybaycity.com! As a student, I don't know what I would do without our libraries. This renewal is critical to keeping our libraries open and to keeping educated individuals in our area. Please vote yes on Tues, November 2!

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Stephen Kent
Steve Kent and his family have lived in Bay City for 40 years. He is VP of Technical Services at MMCC which produces MyBayCity.Com. Kent is active in many Bay City civic organizations. More from Stephen Kent

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