About a decade ago, the library’s financial outlook was grim. We were using our rainy day fund year after year to keep things going, and this was after making a number of painful cuts to our hours of operation, to our services, and to our materials budgets. Thankfully, in August 2014, Branch County voters breathed new life into the library by adding an additional millage to increase the library's funding.
Since then, the health of all six of our library branches around the county has been strong. We have doubled the number of hours we are open, doubled the number of physical books we purchase each year, and added a new collection of over 1 million digital items for checkout anywhere at any time.
We undertook a strategic planning process to hear from library users around the county and ensure we were being responsive to their needs and wants, and we have successfully completed 93% of those goals. We have increased our technology and service offerings across the county, including almost tripling the number of programs and events that we offer to the public.
We are incredibly grateful to the voters of Branch County for their support. Through all of these successes of the last 8 years, we have sought ways to lower barriers to accessing the library, so that our library services can be used by as many people as possible. And there is much more to come, we have some exciting plans in the works that we hope to be able to see completed.
Libraries are so much more than just books—though we do books really well! As a trusted resource, people turn to libraries at pivotal points in their lives: introducing a child to literacy, searching for a new job, or learning a new skill. Libraries are the community living room, where all are welcome to reach for their goals, or simply read their morning newspapers with a “hello” from our friendly staff.
40% of the total funding for all six library branches is at stake with the renewal of this millage. This is not an increase or an additional millage. The renewal proposal will be on the ballot next Tuesday, August 2nd.
For more information, please see the millage page on our website at
www.branchdistrictlibrary.org/millage2022
Sincerely,
John Rucker, Director
Branch District Library
