Millage Increase Saves Library From Budget Cuts

Most people don't want to pay higher taxes, and Northville is no exception. But Northville residents value their library, and are willing to pay a little extra to maintain it.

While several other communities voted down library millages on Nov. 2, Northville residents approved a 0.2 mills increase to make certain their library would stay open and not cut services.

The Northville District Library's revenue is based on property value. Library director Julie Herrin said that it would have been impossible to provide the current level of service with that projected loss of funding.  About 68 percent of voters approved the five-year millage to fund general library operation. That means an estimated $407,900 for the first year alone.

Other cities where proposals failed will see a drastic reduction of books and DVDs, fewer hours of operation or, in extreme cases such as in Troy, the closure of libraries. 

That possibility was too much to bear for Moraine Elementary School fifth-grader, Monica Jianette, who wrote to the Northville Record about it. 

"I really enjoy having this library open," Monica wrote in the letter, which appeared Oct. 28 . "The staff is very kind and it is a very good place to sit down and read a book. I go to the library every Saturday or Sunday."

Monica even pledged her own money to help keep her beloved library open.

"Since I am not old enough to vote, I am going to give $20 of my own money to show that I care so much about our library. Thanks for listening to me and please vote YES for the library."

For Casandra Boyce, supporting the library means helping her find work. She visits about three times a week to use the computer and look for a job. In addition to providing a way to apply for jobs online, the library offers   that help her stay competitive in the job market.

"They have classes where they teach you how to use Microsoft Word, how to do a spreadsheet, in case you're looking for something in clerical or administrative. It's really convenient," she said.

It's exactly what Herrin loves to hear.

She believes too many people think we don't need libraries now that we have the internet.  

"There is a lot of information at the library you can't get for free on the internet. We have a subscription data base that we pay for," Herrin said. "Things that individuals couldn't afford on their own, but we buy them for the whole community and you can't find them on the internet for free."

She added, "I think it's very obvious that the Northville people value the library and I'm very grateful that they voted for it."

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