FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the upcoming levy for the Delaware County District Library.

Our Mission

We open doors to imagination, knowledge, connection, and discovery.

Our Vision

The Delaware County District Library is our community’s cornerstone for discovery through all stages of life. Here, we learn, grow, and connect.

“A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.”

— Andrew Carnegie

What We’ve Achieved Accomplished Since 2008

  • 2009 1 mill Levy passage, based on 2008 valuation

  • 2011 Orange Branch Library opens

  • 2018 1 mill Levy renewal

  • 2019 Delaware Maker Studio opens

  • 2023 Liberty Branch Library & 2nd Maker Studio opens

  • May 6, 2025 Levy request

  • New 1 mill request, generating $10.5 million

  • $35 per $100,000, based on 2024 home valuation

What does the current levy bring the library?

The Library’s current 1 mill levy generates approximately 2/3 of the Library’s operating budget.

The 1 mill levy, passed originally in 2009 and renewed in 2018, was estimated at $35 per $100,000, and based on 2008 property tax valuations. Today, that 1 mill levy has an effective residential value of .57. This means that it is now collecting at an effective rate of $19.95 per $100,000.

The remaining 1/3 of the Library’s budget is made up of funds from the Public Library Fund (1.7% of the General Revenue Fund), which accounts for approximately $3 million annually, and a small portion comes from grants, gifts, and returns on investments.

What will the new levy generate?

The request for a new 1 mill levy will generate an additional $10.5 million for the Library. It will cost voters $35 per $100,000, based on 2024 property tax valuations.

What will the library do with the funds?

The Library has three promises it will make the voters, based upon community surveys and the outcomes found in the 2024 strategic plan: convenient access, increased services, and upgrades.

Convenient Access

  • Expanded operating hours (uniform across all branches, 7 days a week)

  • Increased Maker Studio hours and services

  • Additional Outreach Services

  • After-hours access (pick-up lockers or book vending machines)

Increased Services

  • More popular print and digital materials

  • Notary and passport services

  • More study spaces, more access to existing study & meeting rooms

  • Increased programming

  • More online resources (databases)

Upgrades

  • Renovations to Delaware, Ostrander, and phase II to Powell

  • Upgraded A/V in buildings, with streaming capabilities for programming/meetings

  • Improvements to and better use of outdoor spaces