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HANCOCK -- Keweenaw Community Foundation (KCF) and the newly formed Hancock Area District Library are teaming up to inform voters in the City of Hancock, Franklin, Quincy and Hancock Townships on the November ballot proposal. KCF launched the campaign last week and is asking supporters raise $10,000 for its Library Special Project Fund.
KCF Director of Programs Madelina DiLisi said there are two areas of interest for which the special project fund will raise money.
"One is fundraising to pay for the legal expenses and the things that are going to have to happen in order to get this on the ballot," she said. "The other part is educational. Just informing residents about the millage. How much is would cost for households, what kind of services would be provided, some things that might be at risk if it [funding] going away."
According to DiLisi, KCF has raised over $5,000 through the special project fund and is halfway to its goal.
Hancock Area Library Board President Carolyn Dekker said the millage language says the library aims to raise approximately $200,000 at .7 mills. The actual amount raised will be closer to $185,000. "This works out to about $38 a year for a household and less for the townships," she said. "At that cost, what we'd be able to do is fund the library in the future operating the way it's been operating, providing this incredibly high level of service to the community just as it has been for the last eight years."
Dekker said Hancock Librarian Boni Ashburn has made the library flourish in recent years, but is at risk of being let go if the proposed funding is not secured. "If the millage does not pass, the school plan for a $30,000 per year library does not include having a librarian on staff or a full-time staff member," she said.
KCF's announcement said if the millage does not pass, then the remaining special project funds will be donated to the school district for library operations.
Dekker added since the library is positioned inside Hancock Middle/High School, the students who use the library's proposed funding would benefit from the millage passing as well. "It's also important to remember that if this millage passes, not only does the Library win, but Hancock Public Schools students win," she said. "This town deserves a library and this town's students not to have less at school because they're [the district[ paying to fund the library."
If residents are interested, the best way to support the library is to donate, DiLisi said. "It's really going to help make a difference if they are interested."
For more information about the Hancock Area District Library and its millage request, visit keweenawcommunityfoundation.org/hancock-area-district-library-special-project-fund. The webpage also has a downloadable FAQ.