Decide on Services the District Might Offer
Many library boards and directors pursue the district option because of a funding problem. While this is understandable please don't forget to consider library services. A new library district can be an opportunity for the library to provide expanded and/or new services to the community. Ask people what they would like to see at the library. Do they want more hours? More computers? Classes or new programming? If so try to find a way to offer these through the new district. It helps your cause if you can talk about library services first - plus that's why you're here. Libraries are about improving the community's quality of life. Explore that idea and come up with ways to do that by talking about services you can offer once you become a district.
Chances are your new district expands your current boundaries (or at least makes them official), so take some time to think about how best to offer library services to people who aren't in your immediate vicinity. You will have to convince people throughout the district to vote yes, so be prepared to tell them how the new district will benefit them. Can you offer a bookmobile or mail services to people who live a long way from the library? What about book drops in remote places? How else can you offer services to these people? Consider various options and talk to people who live in the far corners of the district. Find out what they would like to see with a new library district and then follow up by considering their suggestions and doing your best to add one or two new services that will benefit people living within the district boundaries.
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