Library Levy Question | Access For All
THANK YOU, VOTERS!
The Kansas City Public Library is grateful to voters for saying YES to the Library Question. Because of your support, the Library will be able to do even more to serve all people in our community. READ MORE »
With Levy Approval, the Library Can:
- Respond to growing community needs
- Enhance Library services, programs and safety
- Renovate and replace aging facilities
- Sustain and expand lifelong learning opportunities
About the Library Question
More than ever, the Kansas City Public Library is central to the lives of the individuals, families, and communities it serves. From early childhood literacy to outreach for the elderly and disabled. From access to computers and the internet to civic and community engagement. On November 6, 2018, we asked voters to authorize an 8-cent increase in the property tax based operating levy – the first such request in 22 years – to maintain and modernize facilities and sustain and enhance essential services.
The library asked voters to authorize the first increase in its tax-based operating levy in 22 years...and you said YES!
The Need
The current level of funding, set in 1996, is no longer sufficient to sustain operations at the Library system’s 10 locations and the current level of on-site and online services they provide. Demand in the community is great, as reflected by the more than 4 million visitors to the Library in 2017-18. Levy funds supporting its operations and services have grown by less than 1 percent annually over the past decade, failing to keep pace with residents’ rising needs.
Yes to the Library Question means:
- Expanding Library services for children, students, seniors, families, and others
- Extending Library hours, increasing access to programs and materials
- Modernizing computers and other digital resources and expanding training
- Renovating or replacing aging Library branches
No to the Library Question means:
- Acquiring fewer new materials and resources including books, movies, music, magazines, databases, and other research tools
- Cutting back Library hours, reducing access to computers, materials, services, and programs
- Scaling back technology updates and likely falling short in meeting our community’s growing digital needs
- Making only basic repairs and postponing renovations; facilities will deteriorate
The Library Impacts Lives | 2017-2018
Enhancing children's and youth literacy
Children's programs, including story times and Friday Night Family Fun events, drew 73,084 participants.
The Library’s Books to Go program delivered 101,600 materials to approximately 4,700 children at preschools and childcare centers..
Participation in youth summer reading, designed to maintain reading retention between school years, totaled 3,483 children and teens, a 55 percent rise from the previous year.
Helping seniors stay independent
Seniors and others who are homebound received 13,985 books and other Library materials.
More than 31,000 seniors were Library card holders.
Library outreach services were provided to 16 senior living communities.
Advancing computer access and literacy
Computer and wireless internet sessions at Library locations totaled 800,026.
Public computer use totaled 335,871 hours.
Individuals seeking to improve their computer skills participated in 31,632 classes, learning circles and one-to-one sessions, and online training sessions.
Library Question - Nov 6. 2018 Ballot Language
For the purpose of renovating and replacing aging Library facilities, enhancing spaces, safety and programming for children, seniors and families, expanding services, access to computers and collections to serve public demand, and for the general operation of public libraries, shall the Board of Trustees of the Kansas City Public Library District be authorized to levy an additional eight cent ($.08) tax over the present property tax for the free public library?
How would this levy increase affect my property taxes?
Want to copy and paste some of these facts and figures? Visit our Plain Text levy page »
VOTER RESOURCES
Election Day: Tuesday, November 6, 2018
What to Bring to the Polls:
Missouri Secretary of State Voter Information
Voter ID FAQ
Get help obtaining proper ID – Missouri Secretary of State
Acceptable forms of ID are:
- ID issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority of the state
- ID issued by the United States government or agency thereof
- ID issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college, vocational or technical school located within the state of Missouri
- A copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that contains the name and current address of the voter
- Driver's license or state ID card issued by another state
- Other ID approved by the Secretary of State of Missouri
