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Levy Information Kate Love Simpson – Morgan County Library
Ohio Public Library Funds have been decreasing since 2001 while your library costs have been increasing.
Morgan County Public Library Funds have suffered critical cuts in both 2008 & 2009.
By 2009, PLF or Public Library Funds had been slashed by $140,000 from 2001 levels.
For 2010, the projected additional cut is $40,000. It could be even more.
The Board of Trustees of the Kate Love Simpson Library believes that Morgan County voters should have the right and opportunity to increase library funding.
The Morgan County Commissioners have placed a 5-year, one mill levy on the ballot for operation and maintenance of your libraries. [
Both buildings & bookmobile are fully paid for.]For a $50,000 home, a one mill additional tax would cost $15.32 a year or $7.66 a half.
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We have made all the easy cuts and some that were not so easy. We have found other resources.
Reduced spending on books, magazines, newspapers by over $100,000. Reduced hours of operation at both libraries. Not replaced three employees who retired and reduced paid hours for library employees. Closed library for a 1-week unpaid furlough for all employees. Director took an additional unpaid furlough and refused mileage reimbursements. Applied for several grants and received four. Used referrals from social agencies and volunteers to perform 45 – 55 hours of free labor each week.
Your libraries offer a wealth of free materials, media, & services.
You can check out books, audio books, movies, music, magazines, and computer software for the youngest to the oldest folks. You can also order materials from over 800 other libraries.
In 2009, you and your friends made our libraries busier than ever & circulated 320,651 items, an astounding 40% increase from 2008.
Teachers borrow enrichment materials, including classroom sets of required reading books.
Your bookmobile travels to Stockport, Dale, Deavertown, Reinersville, Chesterhill, Riverside Country & Genesis Care Centers, delivering books to shut-ins, and bringing books to children at South, West & East Elementary Schools.
You can use computers, take computer classes or tap into the libraries’ free WiFi. In order to stay current, your libraries must update the computers, add to data bases, and pay for software licenses.
High school students can complete course work on Raider Net to graduate from high school.
You can fill out job applications, make unemployment claims, or apply for scholarships.
You can access college class assignments & find required resources on-line. You can keep in touch with families & friends with email and share digital photos on-line.
Your children and grandchildren can attend Story Time at the library. Your children’s librarian visits Head Start classrooms & other places where children gather, bringing the library & early literacy activities to them.
You can use our free meeting room or join the many groups who do—Farm Bureau Women, DAR, Art Guild, Genesis Hospice, Widows Sharing, Tuesday morning Quilters, Morgan Co. Communicators & others.
Funds from the One Mill Levy would supplement state money, enabling the main library in McConnelsville, the Chesterhill Branch Library & your bookmobile service, to continue to offer vital resources for the entire Morgan County community, children, teens, adults, and senior citizens. We would focus on key areas:1. Restore & expand budget for library materials: Books, CD’s, DVD’s, Audio books, large print media, magazines, & newspapers.
2. Update computers; add data bases.
3. Restore staffing to enhance library services.
4. Perform needed maintenance & building improvements.
5. Maintain & improve bookmobile service.
6. Enhance & expand programming for children, teens, adults, and senior citizens.
LIBRARY HISTORY
The Kate Love Simpson Morgan County Library was organized January 26, 1920 as a library association. The original constitution and bylaws requested a contribution of $5 annually, with the library open to residents of McConnelsville and Malta. A physicians certificate of good health was requested on joining the association. In 1923, Mr. Simpson bequeathed the 1859 Simpson House to the library trustees as a place to locate the library collection.
The Simpson House at 358 East Main Street was renovated to serve as a library. Area residents donated books and the county budget commission began allocating funds for library operation. In 1934, the library opened its doors to all residents of Morgan County.
The library has continued to grow and in 1994 the Board of Trustees applied for and received a grant to help finance a new building. The new building opened at the end of February 1997 with approximately 12,000 square feet, a bookmobile garage, and a community meeting room. An open house and dedication was held on March 2, 1997.
The mission of the Kate Love Simpson Morgan County Library is to support life-long learning for all ages with a wide variety of materials to fulfill the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of Morgan County residents.