Our library is an important part of our community and an important resource. Without “the big library” in Casper, we would not have access to our own local library. The Summer Reading Program is an incredible encouragement for kids and adults to read, and we can access any materials in the state at any time through the Interlibrary Loan Program.
Supporting the new Natrona County Public Library would support our community in many ways. It would allow for more books and materials to be housed, allowing us access to the new materials. It would also support an addition to our own local library, with more technology and materials. We would have access to more books, movies, CDs, books on tape, ebooks, playaways, and other assorted items.
Expanding the library is a necessity for the entire county. It is so crowded, that it can be difficult to find a quiet place to read or an open computer. The children’s section is divided among floors, so it’s a challenge to keep track of a group of children, and sometimes their browsing has to be limited to the materials in a certain room or area. Parking is so atrocious, that on a busy day a space can’t be found for blocks, and where the library is, there is absolutely NO ROOM to grow.
The proposed site for the new library is spacious and beautiful. There is room for parking, room for green space and pathways, for a children’s area, and even room to expand should the need arise again.
This would be a time limited campaign. By law, the tax cannot be extended or increased without going back to the public for a vote. Property taxes, gasoline and groceries would not be affected, and it would only be one cent more than we currently pay for sales tax. If you buy an item at the dollar store, it would cost $1.06, instead of $1.05, unless of course it’s a grocery item, because those are still exempted. Out of town visitors will help pay for the new facility!
Did You Know? Library use has more than doubled (up 120%) in the past ten years. Its last major renovation occurred when there were only 35,000 people in Natrona County!
The planning board has revised and scaled back this plan from the original that was submitted to the ballot in 2008, and the property has already been purchased with private funds raised by the Natrona County Public Library Foundation.
People in this community fought so hard to keep our post offices, and while there were some concessions, we were largely successful. This is a much easier fight, because all you have to do is check yes in November!
How would a temporary penny affect me?
If you spend:
$60 for a tank of gas: +0¢ $25 for a pair of Blue Jeans: +25¢
$20 for a large pizza: +20¢ $3 for a 6-pack of soda: + 0
$1 for a fountain drink: + 1¢ $ANY for groceries/prescriptions + 0¢
*Statistics and diagram gathered from Natrona County Public Library Website and Printed Materials.
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