The present library has about 6,000 sq. ft. and was purchased as a transitional building in 1998 to replace the previous 2,400 sq. ft. space in the Memorial Building. During the last ten years circulation and usage has more than tripled.  While providing a good temporary solution a decade ago, the building has many limitations including:

• Insufficient room to house new books and materials added to the collection.

• Shelves with books which are difficult to reach.

• Limited reading and study space.

• Limited ability to segregate quiet areas from public service and programming areas.

• Limited space for programming.

• Limited number of public computers.

• Inability to satisfactorily meet requests from the public for tutoring and meeting space.

• Single restroom which is inadequate to handle the usage demands.

August 5, 2008

All registered voters in the City of DeWitt, DeWitt Township and the portions of Watertown Township in the DeWitt, St. Johns and Lansing school districts.

The library is requesting an increase of .95 mill for 20 years to build and operate a new district library building.

The library currently has .5 (1/2) mill of operating millage which expires in 2010. The proposal renews the current millage when it expires.

A .95 mill increase will mean a tax increase of about $47.50 a year on a house valued at $100,000.  The increase would be about $95 a year on a house valued at $200,000. 

The Capital Area Library District, which includes most of Ingham County, is requesting an increase of .96 mill for new buildings on August 5th. If passed, they would assess a total of 2.42 mills. East Lansing allocates an amount from general property tax revenues equivalent to about 1.6 mill a year to the East Lansing library. In comparison, DeWitt would assess a total of 1.45 mill.

The library would bond for up to $8.5 million for 20 years to construct a new library building.

The new district library would be located on the west side of DeWitt Road between Herbison Road and I-69 on 4 acres donated by Norm and Renee Farnum. The land borders the DeWitt school district property and would be connected by a sidewalk to the existing bike path at Herbison Road. The library expects to also have a connecting path to the school campus.

The library board has not determined a final size, however, using cost projections it expects to be able to construct a building between 20,000 and 25,000 sq. ft.

The library board chose to include only the residents of the City of DeWitt, DeWitt Township and Watertown Township in its projections. The board is confident that the reduced size will still be adequate to meet the library needs of our community for the next 20 years.

The drawings are conceptual and details could change in the final design phase.

• Sufficient space for the library’s growing collection.

• Quiet adult reading and work spaces

• Improved accessibility for the physically challenged

• Group study and literacy rooms.

• Meeting room for library and community use.

• Larger children’s area.

• Dedicated teen area.

• Separate restrooms for men and women. A family restroom in the children’s area.

• Adequate parking close to the building.

• More public access computers.

• Expanded programming for adults, teens and children.