Evenings and Saturdays at the Moniteau County Library@Wood Place are important times for many local adults to apply for jobs, advance their knowledge and training, or take care of other Internet-required responsibilities.
That's one of the services provided by the library that will continue with the passage of the levy proposal on Tuesday's ballot.
Currently, property owners within the county sub-district of the city limits of California pay 10 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. The proposition is to raise the levy to 12 cents.
The property owners in the western subdistrict already pay 12 cents. And the state library recommends county libraries need 20-cent levies to maintain adequate staffing and materials.
Recently, the state library received major budget cuts, which amounts to the loss of about $9,000 from the local library's annual operating budget, said librarian Connie Walker.
The estimated tax benefit to the library through an increased levy should be about equal to that gap. It will amount to an average increase of $3-7 annually per property owner.
If the measure does not pass April 5, the library likely will reduce evening and Saturday hours to remain fiscally responsible, Walker said. Or they may have to ask the library friends group or foundation to increase its support.
The Vote Yes for the Moniteau County Library Committee started in fall 2015, receiving structure and guidance from the Every Library organization, which works specifically with local libraries to pass levy measures.
Board secretary Laura Burger, who also serves on the committee, said she feels the campaign has been effective and that she's optimistic about Tuesday's results.
"I'm a very big advocate for literacy, and a library allows people in a community a source to be able to improve their literacy or continue reading or use the computer," Burger said. "The library is a valuable asset for our community."
Throughout the course of the campaign, Burger said, they have the opportunity to educate residents about the variety of services, in addition to books, that the library provides.
If passed, the increased levy will help the library continue that 21st-century role of providing more than just books, Walker said.
"We've moved into being a community meeting place," she said. For many children after school, it is a safe place for them until their parents are off work.
The local library provides ESL classes twice a week and access to computers, software and the Internet.
They have a children's area and an early literacy emphasis.
In the community, the library offers summer reading programs for local day cares and other weekly programs for children.