The Kentucky League of Women Voters’ Hopkinsville chapter is exploring the logistics of a new tax to support the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library.
The group conducted a study in recent months that found that the single-branch library is 112th out of 119 Kentucky public library systems in terms of funding, despite being 11th in population served.
Chapter president Bonnie Lynch says the state average of funding for public libraries is just over $40 per capita, but in Christian County, it’s just over $10 per resident. The group’s study also found that the library is one of only eight in the commonwealth that doesn’t have a dedicated source of funding.
Lynch said a public forum held Monday night garnered positive feedback from those that attended. The group hosted several local officials and a Warren County Public Library representative that talked about new services and programs that have been made possible by a Bowling Green-area library tax.
“I know one action that I think we all agreed upon last night was to create a Friends of the Library, so that was a plus and we got people to volunteer for that," Lynch said.
The chapter's committee chair Martha White says the average library tax in Kentucky is 6 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
The chapter will discuss the issue further at their meeting next week before making a recommendation to city and county leaders.
