Library Group Seeks To Inform Public Before Vote
The group Library Improvements for Everyone (L.I.F.E.) is looking hoping everyone in the county can make an informed decision on the upcoming proposed tax increase initiative to support the building & staffing of three new libraries:
This upcoming Tuesday (April 6th) Christian County voters are asked to vote for funding for three new library facilities. In the past few weeks, this topic has received various degrees of press from both sides of the issue. We ask that you vote based on the facts not on opinions.
Just the facts:
• The current library’s facility is over 30 years old. Expansion of the current facility is cost prohibitive. In all honesty, it would be cheaper to tear it down and start from scratch. However, the current site does not allow for the size of library needed to service Christian County so starting from scratch on that site is not a wise investment.
• The land was purchased prior to the vote because:
o The Board of Trustees had been saving for over 12 years to purchase land that they knew would be needed for expansion of the library for a growing county.
o The owners of the land are library supporters and saw the need for this progress in our county. They sold their land for well below what they could have sold it for on the market.
o Design and construction costs could be figured ahead of the vote so that the voters would be able to see what the facilities would look like and what the estimated costs were going to be. This is similar practice as to what schools do.
• Three new facilities will enable service to all of Christian County. Interest rates are at an all time low, so the library can get more bang for the tax dollar, which means better facilities. Three new facilities also mean jobs for Christian County. Construction jobs, but also jobs in operations of the facilities.
• Libraries are an integral part of a community. For the smaller towns in Christian County that will be served by Clever and Sparta, the facilities there will be an information clearinghouse, not only with the books, DVD’s, periodicals, computers, etc. that it provides, but also in providing an avenue for local information to be shared (i.e. new community organization needing volunteers, local fundraiser for someone in need, self-defense courses…. Etc.) For two of our larger cities, Nixa and Ozark, it provides yet another draw for big chain stores and other businesses to choose Nixa/Ozark over Springfield.
Please take a moment to read the FAQ’s listed at the L.I.F.E. website before going to the polls on Tuesday. Then please join us for the watch party at the Christian County Library in Ozark that evening.
