While the Evanston Public Library looks for ways to enhance library services, its budget for next year does not propose a property tax increase.
Library Director Karen Danczak Lyons says the library board plans to rely on raising funds through competive grants, donations and fundraising for any additional services.
The library board earlier this month voted to hold a fundraising campaign this fall to pay for a planned takeover by the library of the volunteer-operated Mighty Twig on Chicago Avenue at Main Street starting Jan. 1.
The current branch library division will be renamed neighborhood services and fundraising is expected to raise the funds for the anticipated two-thirds increase in the budget for those services.
Danczak Lyons says that though the board members are appointed, not elected, “they take their duties for the oversight of library finances very seriously.”
Top: The main library reference room.
Focus on state of the art Main Library first
Evanston needs to focus on having a state of the art Main Library, which we do not have. Once this is accomplished, then and only then, should any money, resources, time, be spent on anything else. The "anything else" should be a bookmobile because it could serve all portions of Evanston.