Gail Borden Library deserves, needs referendum support

We strongly encourage the residents of Gail Borden Public Library District to vote yes on March 17. We have an opportunity to support our beloved library without raising our taxes.

In 2000, our community voted yes for a bond referendum to build our main Gail Borden Library and the Rakow Branch in Elgin. The ballot question asks for approval to redirect the same amount we have been paying from bonds to operations. When the bond referendum expires in 2021, we can continue to support our award-winning library and we will not see a raise in our tax rate.

Who is voting yes to Gail Borden Library? We are: community members enjoying the many services the library offers, residents using computers and other technology, families with children attending the popular reading activities, music lovers listening to professional musicians' (free) concerts, lifelong learners selecting from the diverse programs offered every day on every subject and residents bringing friends and family to see the latest museum-quality exhibits. Our library opens doors to literacy and learning and is making our community a better place to live.

Gail Borden Public Library is the heart of our community, welcoming people of all ages and cultures. They connect with each other in the library every day. They gather at meetings, volunteer, listen to music, attend classes, meet friends for coffee, enjoy amazing exhibits, read and check out materials. In fact, patrons saved $23.7 million in 2019 by checking out materials instead of purchasing them.

The library is a careful steward of our tax dollars. The library district is in the top 25% of area districts in population but in the lowest 25% in per capita spending. The library trustees and staff have provided services, materials and programs through fundraising and establishing partnerships with organizations and businesses, enabling the purchase of materials for our two branches. Last year, a bookmobile was purchased to better serve residents without transportation. The library has continued to adapt to changes in technology and patrons' needs and has done so by being fiscally responsible. Now funds are needed to support the library's programs, materials, services and facilities, including the main library, Rakow Branch and the new South Elgin Branch.

The results of a recent survey conducted by NIU's Center for Governmental Studies showed that 98% of library users and a remarkable 96% of non-users, say the library is a valuable resource to our community. A yes vote will provide the library with the resources to maintain the high quality of services we have come to expect in our community.

The result of voting yes will be a zero tax-rate change. A no vote could result in a reduction of staff, programs, services and hours. Our community would lose, as the funds would not be there for the long-term maintenance and repair of the facilities in which we have invested.

We encourage residents to learn more about the referendum at www.yestogailbordenlibrary.org or on Facebook at Yes to Gail Borden Public Library. Email us at yestogailbordenlibrary@gmail.com. The library website provides information on the no tax-rate-increase referendum at gailborden.info.

Voters wisely said yes to Gail Borden Public Library District in 2000. Let's be smart and vote yes again.

Elgin residents Karen Fox and Karen Schock are co-chairs of "Yes To Gail Borden Library."