District Library FAQs

What is a District Library?
The Petoskey Public Library became a single unit District Library on August 3, 2009, when the Petoskey City Council approved a district library agreement. A single district library was formed in order to allow other municipalities to join as independent units. Now the Library is a separate taxing entity and other municipalities can join, make direct payments to the Library and be represented on the Library Board. Currently, the District Library is hoping to partner with the two largest municipalities outside the city that the Library serves: Bear Creek and Resort Townships. The Library Board plans to create a committee to restructure the District Library Agreement and create a budget for the expanded District. Voters may have the opportunity to vote on this issue in August, 2010.

Why do we need a District Library?
Library use has increased dramatically and there are constant requests for the Library to be open more hours and to be able to buy more books, books on cd, dvd’s etc., and to have more programs. For example, the Petoskey District Library is currently open 42 hours a week. In comparison, the Charlevoix Library is open 58 hours a week. Currently residents of the City of Petoskey represent 25 percent of the library's service area and are paying 75 percent of the expenses. If other townships or cities joined the district, hours and services could increase. More than 200 people a day come into the Library. In addition to checking things out, people use:
meeting rooms
attend programs for adults, teens, children
read to their children
attend summer activities
read newspapers and magazines
do research
check obituaries and local history files
use reference materials and databases
have tests proctored
meet with literacy tutors provided by the library both for adults and children
apply for unemployment
make copies
use library computers
use personal computers on the library's wireless
search for grant opportunities using the Foundation Center Cooperating Collection
Download books
Have database searches done for entrepreneurs as part of the library's business resource center

How is a District Library funded?
Millages are the main funding source district libraries. Millages are formulas for property tax rates based on the taxable value of property. For example: one mill for property worth $120,000 is generally $60 or $5 a month. If your property is worth 300,000 then a mill is $150 or $12.50 a month. Other funds the library receives are state aid, penal fines, internal fines and fees, gifts to the library, etc.

How would this millage affect those whose property is not their principal residence?
Those property owners with non principal residential exemption as opposed to principal residential exemption would pay the same rate.