With the millage vote just 4 days away, we’d like to state the facts one last time.

Fact: The Capital Area District Library is asking for a renewal of its operational millage.  The current millage is expired.  Without this renewal, the library will close on January 3, 2011. 

Fact: Nearly 90% of the library’s funding comes from this operational millage.

Fact: The millage renewal would be 1.56 mills for the next four years.

Fact: CADL has 13 branches and one book mobile which provide library services to all of Ingham county except for East Lansing.  These services include loaning books, CDs, DVDs, and other media, providing free computer and wifi access, staffing their libraries with friendly and knowledgable staff to make information more accessible, and providing a variety of program for children, teen and adults.

Fact: This issue is on the ballot Tuesday, August 3.  It is on the back sde of the ballot.

If you have additional questions, check out http://cadl.org/news/2010millage, or e-mail info@supportcadl.org.

With the election only five days away, it is time to take the final action to ensure that your CADL library remains open to provide vital services to the residents of its service area.  Many of you have already given generously of your time, and for that Support CADL is more appreciative than we can say.  In these days leading up to the vote, try taking these simple steps to participate in the final advocacy push before the election:

-  Participate in our Change Your Status drive coming up this weekend on Facebook. Starting Friday 7/31, update your status to read, “Support CADL by voting YES this Tuesday, August 3 to keep Capital Area District Libraries OPEN!”

-  Tell at least three other people you know who vote what the library menas to you, and why they should vote yes

-  Make sure you know where you should go to vote.  If you’re not sure, check out this link, or call your local library and ask them for help finding out your voting location.

-  Mark the election on your calendar, or write yourself a reminder note.

If you love your libraries, then please take a few moments to put these final steps into action.  Stay tuned to our blog, Facebook, and Twitter; we’ll be posting every day until the election!

From Flickr User: Library of Congress

When I was at the grocery store the other day, I overheard a couple of grandparents having a conversation:

Grandpa: What are we going to do with the kids all week?
Grandma: You sound like you are not looking forward to having your grandchildren stay with us.
Grandpa: Sally, it has been a long time since we ran after three young kids.
Grandma: Don’t worry – I already ran by the library and checked out movies, some books and a book on CD for the drive to Lake Michigan on Tuesday. The library also has a magic show on Wednesday and storytime Thursday night.

Kind of makes you smile doesn’t it? This conversation illustrates everything we love about libraries. Our public libraries have something for everyone! Andrew Carnegie recognized the far reaching appeal and overall community resource that the library represents – it is evident in the very design of his buildings. The library is the heart of the community. Think about it. What other building in our community do you observe both curious toddlers and esteemed seniors sharing resources with both a sense of purpose and camaraderie? The library brings people together by providing resources that are enjoyed by all ages, genders, races, and religions.

Libraries of today provide a central place for information, entertainment and community activity. You can see it when you attend an author presentation, a travelogue, cooking demonstration, story time or stop to admire an art, culture, or craft display. It is one of the most community responsive fundamentally unifying public institutions still standing. We urge you to support this institution by voting YES for the CADL renewal on the August 3 ballot.

Have you ever used CADL to do the following things?  Please share this with your friends.  Ask them if they have used CADL for these reasons and encourage them to Vote YES! And if they haven’t used the Capital Area District Library before, let them know what they’re missing!

Have you used to CADL to?

Check out a book
Check out a movie
Check out a magazine
Check out a comic book
Check out a video game
Ask a librarian for resources for your homework
Ask a librarian for Mapquest/Google Maps directions
Ask a librarian for tax forms
Ask a librarian for a book recommendation
Ask a librarian for a movie recommendation
Ask a librarian to put an item on hold
Ask a librarian to help you with the computers
Ask a librarian to help you find an item
Ask a librarian anything!
Access the Internet
Use Microsoft Word
Use Microsoft PowerPoint
Use Microsoft Excel
Use Microsoft Access
Use Google Picasa
Use the computers to upload your photos to the Internet
Use the computers to play Farmville
Use the computers to connect with friends and family using Facebook
Use the Catalog to find a book
Use MelCat
Find a job
Take your kids to see a summer reading entertainer
Take your kids to see movie
Take your kids to attend a craft time
Take your kids to a story time
Take your kids to an early literacy playgroup
Take your kids to sign up for their first library card
Take your kids to be tutored in the library lobby
Participate in the Summer Reading Program
Use a community event room
Use one of CADL?s databases
Crank the wheel on a microfilm machine
Use the Local Archives in the basement of the Downtown Library
Take a Computer Class
Attend a gardening program
Attend a finance program
Attend an author visit
Attend a craft program for adults
Participate in Capital Area Reads
Participate in a Book Discussion Group
Read a book
Read a magazine
Read a newspaper
Use a reference book
Take a test for a university or a local college
Obtain materials to learn how to start a business
To meet your friends
Use the copier machine
Print something off using the computers
Use a computer to download music
Use a computer to shop online
Get shelter from heat, cold, rain, lightning, hail, sleet, snow, or high winds.
Attend a video game tournament
Attend a graphic novel club
Take your kids to a Youth Advisory Meeting
To work with your peers on a project
Use a computer to apply for financial aid
Use a computer to file for unemployment
Use a computer to check your e-mail
Use a computer to schedule college classes
Download e-books or e-audiobooks for your MP3 player
Post something on the community board for non-profits

Curious about the ballot language? Read this!

Hey all you CADL supporters!  There have been some questions about the language on the ballot for the millage.  If you want to understand better, check out these words from CADL Director Lance Werner, borrowed from an LSJ comment section.

Read this, and spread the word to everyone you know if they seem confused about the language and what tax capture is.  If you still have questions, e-mail us at info@supportcadl.org, and we’ll answer them!

From Flickr User: Library of Congress

“All property taxes in Michigan are impacted by tax capturing authorities, commonly referred to as TIFAs (Tax Increment Financing Acts). These authorities include but aren’t limited to: Downtown Development Authorities, Michigan Promise Zone Authorities and Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities. Each authority collects a small portion of any millage, or property tax that is levied irrespective of the wants and desires of the municipality or governmental unit that is levying the millage and irrespective of the original purpose for which the millage was levied. The millage funds that are captured are used by the authority for purposes the authority was created for. In other words the funds go back to the communities where the authorities have been established.

In some cases it is possible to opt out of capture (new authorities) and in some cases it is not possible (Brownfields or when there is a pre-existing authority). Our policy is to opt-out of TIFAs when we can.

Unfortunately taxing authorities, such as the Capital Area District Library, cannot legally do anything about TIFAs that we are or were unable to opt out of. We are required by law to surrender a small percentage of the property taxes we receive to TIFAs and are also legally required to note this in ballot language. Any taxing authority that fails to list capturing TIFAs in its ballot language is in violation of Michigan law. There is no ploy and CADL has followed the law. Almost all of the millage money goes to support CADL, a very small percentage goes to TIFAs and no taxing authority has the legal authority to arbitrarily withdraw.

For anyone who has questions or would like to express an opinion about TIFAs, we suggest you read more about the state laws under which they are established at the Michigan Legislature website at www.legislature.mi.gov or consider contacting your state representative.

It is also true that the Capital Area District Library receives almost all of the millage funding and that 90% of its income comes from its millage which will generate approximately $600,000 less than it did in 2006 when it was first approved. CADL has made adjustments and will continue to make adjustments to deal with this decline in revenue. We know that people are tightening their belts and we are too. CADL is busier than ever (circulation is up 9.1% in 2009 and 181% since 2000; people used CADL’s Internet terminals for over 284,000 hours in 2009) and people from all walks of life use CADL’s resources. If the millage fails to pass CADL will close all of its 13 branches and bookmobile January 3, 2011 and Ingham County will be without library services, except East Lansing.

-Lance Werner, Capital Area District Library Director”