Adrian District Library seeks millage renewal for operating expenses in May 7 election

Brad Heineman, The Daily Telegram
·2 min read

ADRIAN — The Adrian District Library at 143 E. Maumee St. in downtown Adrian has a millage proposal placed before its voters in the Tuesday, May 7, election.

The library’s current operating millage that was approved by voters in 2015 is set to expire in December. The library is asking for a renewal of the millage rate of 2.4817 mills and an increase of 0.0183 mill to restore the original 2.5 mills — $2.50 on each $1,000 in taxable value — that voters approved in 2015, information from the Adrian District Library said.

The library’s ballot item asks for the millage to be renewed for 10 years, from 2025 to 2034.

The exterior of the Adrian District Library, 143 E. Maumee St., downtown Adrian, is pictured.
The exterior of the Adrian District Library, 143 E. Maumee St., downtown Adrian, is pictured.

The estimate of the revenue the Adrian District Library will collect in the first year of the levy — 2025 — if the millage is approved is $1,200,000. By law, the library said, a portion of the revenue from the millage may be captured by the city of Adrian’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

“The millage makes up 90% of the library’s operating budget. Without these funds, reductions will be made in service hours, staffing, new items for circulation and programming,” the library said.

Election Day is Tuesday, May 7, and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lenawee County Fair & Event Grounds, 602 N. Dean St.

During its last fiscal year, there were 95,000 visitors to the library. Its website, adrian.lib.mi.us, recorded 23,000 site visits.

Some other facts pertaining to the Adrian District Library in the past fiscal year include:

  • More than 93,000 print and electronic materials available for checkout.

  • 14 electronic databases with more than 47,000 items viewed.

  • More than 300 programs offered for all ages, with total attendance at these programs of almost 8,000.

  • More than 8,600 computer sessions.

  • 20,000 wireless internet sessions.

Everyone is welcome to visit the library, but to check out materials and use databases remotely, patrons must have a library card. The library serves residents and property owners of the city of Adrian.

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Since the millage was passed in 2015, various building improvements have been completed, service hours have expanded, and programming — including storytime for preschoolers, computer classes, book clubs, virtual author talks and more — have been added.

Those who have questions about the library or its upcoming millage renewal request, can find the library online or may contact library Director Jen Wrzesinski by calling 517-265-2265.

— Contact reporter Brad Heineman at bheineman@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: www.twitter.com/LenaweeHeineman.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian District Library seeks millage renewal May 7