By Chauncey Montgomery, Director, Community Library

 

In 1944, the YWCA, along with members of literary clubs of Galena and Sunbury, established the Community Library in Sunbury. Housed in a former grocery store, the library provided approximately 1,336 books that had been donated to start the original collection. Now, in a 14,000 sq. ft. facility with more than 100,000 circulating items, numerous programs, and over 500 daily visits, Community Library is a community asset valued more than ever by area residents.

 

 

As with many libraries in Ohio, Community Library depends on the state for 95% of its funding. Over the past several years, as state revenue eroded, library administration and staff tried to maintain services by reducing expenses and increasing alternative revenue. These efforts were not enough to offset the tremendous loss in state funding.

 

By the middle of 2009, it became apparent that Community Library needed a new funding stream that provided not only stability and consistency, but also provided an adequate level of resources to maintain library services. So, for the first time in the library's history, a 1-mill, 5-year operating levy was proposed to residents in the Big Walnut Local School District. This levy would generate approximately $644,000 annually for the library, which is approximately the amount received in Public Library Fund revenue in 2007.