LEVY INFORMATION
The MidPointe Library System will have a levy on the ballot on Tuesday, November 5. Please find information regarding this levy, as well as why the Library is asking for continued community support below:
Something for Everyone in the Community
MidPointe Library System provides a myriad of resources, materials, services, and programming to the residents of eastern Butler County.
MidPointe offers a collection of over a half million physical items, and partnership with SearchOhio gives patrons access to over 16 million items from across the state. In 2023 over 2 million items were checked out. Additionally, MidPointe provides internet access and public computers to assist people in finding jobs, accessing data and doing schoolwork. MidPointe’s free meeting rooms were reserved 10,402 times in 2023, providing space for community groups, non-profit organizations and more.
In 2023, MidPointe offered 3,275 programs which were attended by over 82,000 patrons. These are as diverse as yoga class and senior lunches for adults, to storytime and coding events for children. The Library’s Summer Reading Program, which promotes literacy for all ages, celebrates year-round learning with 10,000 participants annually.
MidPointe’s influence expands well beyond the buildings. Outreach librarians visit childcare facilities, pre-schools and community centers to engage young people in the joy of reading. The Bookmobile makes stops in every school district in the Library’s service area each month. Educators are able to stock their classrooms with books as a result of MidPointe’s “Teacher Collections” and provide free access to reading material by supplying students with eLibrary cards. The MidPointe Library on Wheels Department provides home delivery to patrons who are unable to physically visit the Library due to advanced age or disability.
Sensible Growth
Levy funding has allowed for needed expansion of services throughout the MidPointe service area. These include: opening new libraries in Monroe and Liberty Township to close two geographical service gaps, renovating an empty building to right-size the MidPointe Library in the City of Trenton, allowed for access to over one million eLibrary materials, re-introduced Bookmobile service to provide both school and community stops, and launching a makerspace within the footprints of MidPointe Library West Chester and Middletown to serve as a creative STEM space for children and a business incubator for adults.
Return on Investment
MidPointe provides free access to traditional books, magazines and A/V materials, as well as eBooks and other digital materials, programming for all ages, early literacy tools, databases, meeting room space, and more. MidPointe serves nearly 180,000 cardholders and welcomes more than 600,000 visitors a year.
The overwhelming majority of the Library’s expenses are devoted to collection development and public service and programs. MidPointe has continually been recognized as one of the most cost-effective libraries in the state.
For every dollar spent on libraries, there is an estimated return of $5-9.
Levy Details
Levy Details
- The levy on the November 5 ballot would replace the current levy when it expires in 2025.
- Levy revenue is held at the dollar amount originally approved by the voters. It does not rise with inflation or with property values. Adjusted for inflation, MidPointe receives 40% of what was originally approved by voters in 2010.
- Levy funds currently make up over 30% of MidPointe’s budget.
- Levy Millage: 1.25 mills
- Cost: The cost of this levy to homeowners is $43.75 for every $100,000 of home valuation annually.
- The option of a continuing levy will allow for MidPointe to better plan for the future.
- Levy funds will:
- Allow for expanded hours
- Restored pre-COVID opening at 9:00 AM
- Full year Sunday hours
- Increase convenience options
- More hold lockers, allowing for extended and easy hold pick up
- Added pop-up library stops
- Additional Bookmobile visits to local schools
- More books and downloadable audio, eBook content for all ages
- Expanded events, including author visits, senior lunches, summer kids’ lunches
- Continue strong and valuable services system-wide
- Early literacy initiatives like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, Starting Pointe and storytimes
- Home delivery and books by mail to patrons unable to access the Library through traditional means
- Case manager on site
- Reference help, job search assistance and customer service
- Educational and entertaining programming for all ages
- Makerspaces for creative and entrepreneurial projects
- Free meeting spaces, Wi-Fi and technology access
- Access to convenient locations in every corner of eastern Butler County
- Allow for expanded hours
For additional information including how to request a levy sign, visit supportmidpointelibrary.com.
