Library district headed to ballot

Erin Scott, Leader Staff

With a proposal set to hit the November ballot that would create a local library district, supporters are doing everything in their power to get the word out.

The Lake County Library Improvement Project Board in 2002 recommended the creation of a public library district system to bring together several libraries, including the Polson city library, Ronan city library, St. Ignatius school-community library, Jocko Valley (Arlee) library, and the Swan Lake library. Supporters of the district said its creation would help improve library services, provide fair, equitable and sustainable funding, and enhance the library as a part of community life as well as a learning and recreation center.

“Our library is in great demand - not only in terms of the computers, but people are still largely in need of books,” said library district supporter Jackie Grawn in an Aug. 28 Lake County Leader article introducing the library district proposal.

However, petitions requesting the Lake County Commissioners to hold an election on the matter did not receive enough signatures. Subsequently, the Polson Library District Steering Committee has been formed in an effort to assess the needs of the library and potential funding. The committee has met with city and council officials, and had conversations with the directors of other Lake County libraries to help find solutions to insufficient library funding.

In the 2008 fiscal year, the library received 62 percent of its revenues from the city’s general fund and 29 percent from private contributions.

Marilyn Trosper, library director, said she would like to see the private donations used to help advance the library’s services and reading selection, not cover operational expenditures.

The levy of up to 10 mills on residents within Polson High School District 23, Trosper said, would cover the library expenses, allowing donations to be used as intended by the donors. The monetary result of the levy on a taxpayer would be approximately equal to the price of one hardback book, she added.

Brandy Whealon, Polson resident and library patron, comes to the library often and said she wouldn’t mind paying a tax for the library.

“I would rather see money go to the library than other things,” she said.

Whealon visits the library two times per month, often with her three children, and said she would like to see new young-adult literature, reorganization of the paperback section and a fresh children’s area.

“I’d like a place where my 5 year old could lounge and read a book,” she said. “It’s a great place to bring kids, but it’s not kid friendly.”

Jackie Gran, vice chair of the Polson City Library Board of Trustees, said almost 66 percent of library patrons are from outside city limits, yet only 6 percent of the library’s funding comes from Lake County.

“The user basis has changed,” Gran said. She said the library district would create equity in funding, and she hopes people will vote for the change.

Library patron, Corryn Greenwalt, lives ten miles outside of the city and uses the library on the weekends. She said she would like to see more computers in the library, and the 15-minute session length lifted.

“I think the library could use more money,” Greenwalt said.

Kathy Harrod, who lives in Pablo, said she supports a new library district. She has been using the library’s resources for more than 20 years, taking a particular interest in the library’s selection of horror novels and Montana history books. She said she’s happy with the reading material the library houses, but said reading is essential and it’s time to expand the collection.

“It’s a good idea,” Harrod said.

Trosper said literature is the center of the library, and plans to make books available for download on the Internet soon.

Various presentations have been held throughout the community and fliers have been distributed by library district proponents, who say the effort to educate the public will continue until November with cable television promotions and radio advertisements.

For more information on the North Lake County Public Library District proposal, or to request an informational pamphlet, visit the Polson City Library or call 883-8225.