Library safe for now?

Submitted by jeffpsmith on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 15:14

Bill Smith at evanstonnow.com has reported that on Sat. Feb. 9, the Council without comment voted to reinstate the approx. $350K city staff had proposed saving from the budget by cutting the two branch libraries, including the North Branch on Central Street.

As of this posting, 340 people have signed an online petition started by CSNA member Lori Keenan to Save The Branch Libraries. You can add your name at:"Save Evanston's Branch Libraries"

About a year ago when we went through this annual jerking-around over the branch libraries, I did some pro bono research at the request of some residents and determined that, in fact, we could put a binding referendum on the ballot to create a library district that would be self-governing rather than subject to the City budget. Perhaps this should be re-explored. Does anyone want me to post more on this?

Forums:

Lori K

Sun, 02/17/2008 - 17:28

Jeff, I would be interested in learning more about the library district, since I think this is what Wilmette does, and I'm all for finding a solution that doesn't threaten our wonderful branch libraries year after year.

The other option would be to establish some sort of Friends of the North Branch which might be able to do fund raising throughout the year to help cut costs.

In a nutshell, the reason this keeps coming up every year is that the library director basically is against the branch libraries since it would be less expensive and easier to maintain one downtown branch. When the budget gets revisited and shortfalls loom large, they look to the various city departments for where cuts can be made and immediately the branches are offered up like sacrificial lambs. The problem being, that people actually like and use the branch libraries, and many of us use them exclusively over driving to the illustrious downtown library. [which, last time I checked, wasn't a very "green" idea either].

I would like to proactively approach a solution which would preserve the North Branch, and would welcome whatever interest/help anyone can offer in looking for possible alternatives to end the discussion once and for all. If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact me directly at smarthinking@sbcglobal.net, or log onto a website recently developed which has more info at http://www.saveourlibraries.net/, or post your comments here and see what sort of discussion we can raise.

jeffpsmith

Sun, 02/17/2008 - 18:53

A section of the Public Library District Act of 1991 governs conversion of public libraries to their own districts: § 75 ILCS 16/10-5 et seq.

I don't think our library board can put such a question on the ballot, because I believe that Evanston's library was established by the City in the late 1800s, after the passage of Illinois's first act authorizing cities to set up libraries, and a city-established library's board lack that power.

The trustees theoretically can ask the City Council to convert the library into its own district under § 75 ILCS 16/10-15. Would our Council do this?

If the Trustees can't and the Council won't, then the only remaining method is citizen petition and referendum under § 75 ILCS 16/10-25, by which a petition signed by 10% of the voters of the district is filed with the City and the library board in advance of the election.

The board of library trustees could then file with the City an addendum to the petition setting forth (i) the establishment date of the existing public library, (ii) the lawful ceiling on its public library tax levies, (iii) the geographic area of territory involved, and (iv) the identity of the municipality or township involved.

The referendum then would go on the ballot in a yes or no form, asking, "Shall the public library in Evanston, Illinois, be converted to a public library district?" or, if there is a maximum tax rate specified, "Shall the public library in Evanston, Illinois, be converted to a public library district, with a maximum annual public library tax rate established at (rate)% of the value of all taxable property in the district as equalized and assessed by the Department of Revenue?"

I believe that the property tax is the only allowable tax a library district can levy (although it can still have fees and fines).

This is not an advisory referendum. If the proposition carries, the board of library trustees converts the public library to a public library district, with the maximum tax rate specified in the proposition.

The petition would be subject to all the other laws governing referendum petitions, i.e., who can circulate, who can sign, when it can be circulated, etc. The 10% is a hefty requirement but not insurmountable. Assuming the library district is defined as the City, that's a minimum of about 4,500 signatures, and to be safe you'd probably want at least 6,000, more if they're gathered on the street instead of door to door. The petitions would need to be filed by July or August (depending on whether it's considered a petition to create a political subdivision, which I haven't checked).

I have not checked to see whether the maximum tax such a district could levy would be more or less than what is currently allocated to fund the library.