Why is the Library supported by public funds?

The Huntley Area Public Library District was established by the majority of voters in 1989. By establishing a library, they gave the board the authority to create a property tax, within certain limits. Only about 3 cents of every property tax dollar you pay goes to support the library.

Public libraries have been around for many years. They were established to provide a way for people to pool their resources so that everyone would be able to share in more informational, educational and leisure reading materials because it benefits the community as a whole. Few people would be able to afford all the materials that one library has to offer. At about $20 per item, for 100,000 items (books, magazines, movies, etc.) you would have to spend about $2 million dollars and that doesn’t include the building, furnishings or staff to help you.