Ypsilanti District Library to put millage in front of voters

To help restore its ability to purchase materials and prevent further cuts, the YDL is putting a new .38 mill tax levy in front of voters in November. The millage would generate $760,000 in 2011 and mean a home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000 would pay an additional $19 annually. The library collects 1.54 mills from the City of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township and Superior Township communities it serves. Those collections generated $4.2 million in 2007. But that figure has dropped to $3.8 million in 2010 because of declining property values, and projections show another decrease of 25 percent by 2013.

Meanwhile, the number of residents using the library continues to grow. The YDL has seen an almost 400 percent increase in circulation since 2002 and lent nearly 1 million pieces last year. The number of residents partaking in YDL programs has doubled at the same time to 44,000 in 2009.

YDL Director Jill Morey said the library can use its fund balance to help offset the losses in the short term, but that will be depleted by 2014. State aid allowances continue to drop, money was lost because of the Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution, interest on YDL accounts has stagnated and money collected from Washtenaw County court fines has declined.

“It is just the perfect storm because of the increased usage … but revenues have gone exactly the opposite direction,” she said. “It’s not that we’re trying to get ahead, it’s that we’re trying to stabilize things and get back to where we were in 2007. It’s really hitting from all sides for public libraries right now."

DeButts said many residents assume the YDL is government funded, but she said the library receives no federal money and very little from the state. She said 92 percent of its revenues come through local property taxes.

Property values in all three communities the YDL serves have dropped, and Ypsilanti Township has been hit especially hard by foreclosures.

Nearly 80,000 residents hold YDL library cards. The YDL was formed between the city and township in 1983, and Superior Township joined in 2007. Branches are located on Whittaker Road in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan Avenue in downtown Ypsilanti and on MacArthur Boulevard in Superior Township. The latter, which opened in 2007, is smaller than the other two. Residents also have access to the Bookmobile.

Typically, the YDL reserves 15 percent of its budget for purchasing books, magazines, movies, music and other "collections" materials, but that number is down 11 percent this year, and will drop further if the millage fails. By law, the library must balance its budget, and Morey said the cost-saving options include shortening its hours, reducing staffing, canceling database subscriptions or cutting programming.

Library programs have become particularly popular with more than 40,000 residents participating in 2,118 individual classes and programs in 2009. Programs include classes on computer skills for job searching and social networking skills, a concert series, book discussions and visits from authors like Scott Simon or radio host Ira Glass.

Ypsilanti resident Beatrice King said her 3-year-old-son, Jeremy, participated in one of the recent youth story time programs.

King, who has been a YDL member for 12 years, said she visits the library for a variety of purposes. Jeremy plays educational games on the computer, while she uses the Internet for job searches or communicating with out of state family.

“I like that it’s local, the security of it; it’s peaceful and I’ve never had any problems at all here,” King said, adding that she owns a home nearby and would support paying a little extra to sustain the library’s current level of service.

Marcus and Lynn Davis browsed the library's movies on a recent afternoon. They were checking out multiple DVDs - a "Family Ties" collection, kung fu movies and a video on aging. Lynn Davis explained she has an aging grandma and hopes the video will help.

The couple, who own a home in Ypsilanti, echoed King's thoughts on the library.

"It's small, it's convenient and there's really good service," Lynn Davis said. She added that she would support the millage.

"I'm already doing that now because I pay my property taxes," she said.