In order to continue the extensive operations and maintenance of the six libraries under the Muskingum County Library System, MCLS is adding a couple additions to its five-year renewal levy.

The first of the two additions is to make the levy continuous instead of a five-year renewal levy, which it has been since it originated in 2009.

A continuous levy allows a levy to stay in place without being voted in as a renewal until the IRS releases the levy, according to the IRS.

The second addition is a monetary change. The library system is requesting a 0.25 mills increase which would put the system at a 1.25 mills levy.

With the current levy in place, the estimated tax for the owner of a $100,000 home is $29.68. The addition of the 0.25 mills would increase that value by $8.75, totaling $38.43 annually.

“This levy hasn’t increased since it originated,” Sean Fennell, the MCLS Marketing and Community Relations Director, said. “So, that’s what we’ve been operating on since that time and so things become more expensive, not less expensive. We need to be able to increase this in order to be able to continue progressing the way that we are and keeping up with serving every aspect or every component of our community.”

The increase of funds would go toward more maintenance of the operations, programs and services that the library already offers.

“It’s going to help us maintain the level of services, programs, collections and technology that we currently offer this community,” Jennifer Spillman, the MCLS Executive Director, said. “It means that the buildings will be maintained, it means that we’ll be able to pay the utility bills and have the same level of staffing and hours that we currently have right now.”

Although maintenance is the main focus, the levy is also helping to expand in some aspects as the library system builds new aspects into its budget each year. Some additional initiatives may include expanding 3D printing, free Wi-Fi hotspots, Chromebook checkouts, updated newsletters and an expanded outreach department, which Spillman said is per community request.

The MCLS offers a large range of programs for all ages. Programs just for November include book discussions, story times, lunch and learns, one-on-one tech time, cake decorating and photography classes, accessible browsing hours and much more.

Accessible browsing hours are for people who may experience sensory issues. The library tries to accommodate anyone in the community that wishes to use the services provided.

“They can come in, we dim the lights a little bit, we open an hour early so that it’s a different type of experience than when the library is really busy and maybe noisy and there’s lots of lights on and activity,” Spillman said. “Just to help maybe if they have sensory issues to deal with coming in and having a calm environment.”

Lunch and Learn is one of the library’s most popular programs which draws a crowd of roughly 40 people, but on average each program has an attendance of roughly 15 to 20 people.

“We range from these like kind of intimate, accessible story times that are designed to be that way to these huge programs that appeal to everyone where everybody is invited and we barbecue on the front lawn,” Fennell said.

The levy totals 37 percent of the library’s overall budget. The remaining funding is split; 56 percent is from the Public Library Fund given by the State of Ohio and the remaining 7 percent comes from overdue charges, donations, interest the library system earns and contributions.

“If this didn’t pass then that means 37 percent of our budget would disappear, and so what would that mean for this community?” Spillman questioned. “The services, obviously, would not be the same.”

The library’s current levy runs through the end of 2019, which MCLS Fiscal Officer Stacey Russell said would give the system a little time to plan and make adjustment if the levy did not pass, although the hope for passage is high.

“We do a lot throughout every single day we’re doing things in the community and so we’re hoping that goodwill continues through and that people will see the value that we add their community and support us,” Fennell said.

The renewal levy with the addition will appear on the ballot for the Midterm Election which is on Nov. 6. Registering to vote has ended, but anyone registered to vote can partake in early voting or head to the polls the day of the election.