ILA needs your help. ILA has received an urgent request for information on whether we are aware of any Illinois municipality utilizing the Illinois Special Service Area statute to impose a special service area property tax to support a municipal public library. Under Illinois law, government services can be provided to the public in a specific geographic area and a special property tax can be imposed on property owners in the area because they receive a unique benefit from the delivery of those governmental services. Special service areas have most often been used for police or fire service, but we need to know if they have been used for library services.
Continue reading "Special Services Area Question" »

A steering committee has been formed to carry out the charge coming out of the summit meeting held on November 9, 2009, on library cooperation in Illinois. Co-chairs Dee Brennan, Oak Park Public Library, and Donna Dziedzic, Naperville Public Library, have developed a planning document that has been distributed to all summit participants. Next steps include formation of task forces early next year to address specific areas of need.
Continue reading "Summit Steering Committee Formed " »