Exploring Library Districts Checklist
- Review library district law
- Talk to Montana State Library staff about districts
- Talk to other library district directors and/or board members
- Arrange and/or attend training about districts
- If applicable form a committee to work on the district project. Be sure to include:
- the director and a board member of the current library (if applicable)
- someone with public relations skills
- someone who is good at navigating legal questions
- someone who is good at navigating financial questions
- Decide on district boundaries. Remember taxable property value must be at least $5 millon, and it's best to use existing district boundaries -such as a school district boundary.
- Decide on a name for the district
- Identify potential new services the library district could offer
- Develop a preliminary budget for district
- Determine how many mills you will need to levy and what that means for property owners
- Talk to county officials - clerk and county commissioners
- Talk to library supporters and other local groups about this idea. Are they supportive?
- Decide whether or not to move forward with the district idea
ASPeN: The New Library Directory
- Home
- Introduction To Public Library Districts
- What Are Districts?
- Pros And Cons Of Library Districts
- Difference Between Library Districts And Other Types Of Libraries
- Who To Contact For Help?
- Exploring Library Districts and Gauging Support for a District Effort
- Research The Districting Option
- Decide on Whether or Not to Create A Committee To Explore District Option
- Decide on Boundaries and Name of the District
- Decide on Services the District Might Offer
- Create a Budget for the District
- Determine the Amount of Mills You Will Need Levied
- Talk to Local Government Officials
- Talk to Library Supporters
- Decide Whether or Not to Move Forward With the District Option
- Exploring Library Districts Checklist
- Forming a District Group - The Role of Local Government Officials and the New Board
- Create an Official District Planning Group/Committee
- Coordinating Local Government Efforts
- The New Board of Trustees
- Forming a District Group Checklist
- Special Considerations
- Planning for Facilities
- Funding For The First Year
- Accounting, Legal, Maintenance Costs
- Transfer Of Staff And Benefits
- Special Considerations Checklist
- Pursuing the District: Legal Options For Forming A District
- Option 1: County Commissioners Pass a Resolution Putting the Library District Issue on the Ballot
- Option 2: Create the district through a petition process and then a resolution by the County Commissioners
- Develop A Map And Description Of The Boundaries Of The New District
- Decide Upon The Maximum Mill Levy That You Want For The District
- Decide On The Number Of Board Members
- Decide On When You Want To Hold The Election
- Draft The Petition
- Circulate The Petitions And Supporting Materials
- The Hearing With The County Commissioners
- Legal Options Checklist
- Election Process
- Create an Election Committee
- Create an Election Calendar
- Create a Public Relations Plan and Design Public Relations Material
- Present Your Idea to the Community
- Get Out the Vote on Election Day
- Conducting the Election
- Results Certification, Canvassing, and the Creation Order
- Election Process Checklist
- Outcomes Of The Effort
- Success
- Election Fails
- Appendices
