Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: August 13, 2015

Library operates mostly on taxes

The library is moving into "school year" mode. The story times will begin on Sept. 8 for infant children to age 2, on Sept. 9 for children 3 to 5 years of age and Sept. 10 for all ages prior to kindergarten.

The story times begin each session at 10:30. Registration forms are available and necessary for staff to plan for the sessions.

Our adult program last week demonstrated by Vince Marshall was an interesting, enlightening lesson in dowsing for historical artifacts. If you are interested in learning about dowsing for artifacts, please contact us. We would learn something new even on the second presentation. Vince uses metal coat hangers in his presentation. If you have extra on hand, please bring them to the library or contact Vince.

The reading logs for the adult "hero" reading challenge are due by 6 PM, on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Prizes will be distributed at the adult party on Friday, Aug. 21. The adults attending will enjoy games and snacks during the final adult event of the summer programming.

A library patron recently asked how we get our financing for operation. For individuals that reside within the city limits of Valley Center, a 4.5 mill is levied with your property taxes for the library which is distributed to us by way of Sedgwick County to the city to the library. The library received six payments each year via the city for our operating funds. We also have grants that we receive for our summer reading program, a grant from the South Central Kansas Library System to compensate us for the number of materials we provide to other libraries by interlibrary loan and another grant from the System that compensates for the library patrons that do not reside within the city limits. Individuals that reside out of the city limits have a line item on their tax bills that provides about a mill that is levied by the Library System which provides the monies for the grants listed above. Each year we provide the number of interlibrary loans we provide and the number of out-of-district patrons. The System uses that information from each library in a 12-county area to calculate grants.

We also depend upon the monies from fines and copies to supplement our budget. Our budget for 2015 is $259,950. We will receive $232,000 from the city with the balance from fines, copies, interest and grants. That budget supports six staff members, purchasing $38,000 in books, audios, e-books and magazine subscriptions. By state statute, we are limited to transferring 20 percent of our tax monies from the city into our Capital Improvements Fund which is earmarked for funding a new facility.

I've also been asked how the Recreation Commission is connected to the library. We are not connected. We receive our funding from the city as illustrated above and are governed by a seven-member board. The Recreation Commission receives its funding from the school district and is governed by its own board. Even though both entities are separate, we try to coordinate programs whenever possible.

The library also depends upon volunteers throughout the year to help with shelving and programs. I realize the usual thought is that "librarians sit and read all day." That is certainly not true. Library staff is always seeking ideas for programs during the summer and the school months. We usually rotate months with teen events and adult events. Would you attend adult movie nights? Would you be interested in regular book discussions through the Kansas Humanities Council? Would you like "instructional" programs? Please give us your ideas.

Upcoming Events

August – National Inventor's Month & National Back to School Month

Tuesday, Aug. 18 – City Council

Wednesday, Aug. 19 – Adult Reading Logs due

Wednesday, Aug. 19 – National Aviation Day

Friday, Aug. 21 – Adult Party – games

Tuesday, Sept. 1 – City Council

Tuesday, Sept. 1 – Shredding pick up