Moniteau County rural residents in the western library subdistrict may soon have the opportunity to access the Moniteau County Library @ Wood Place without a membership.
Following the “outstanding†voter turnout April 5 raising the levy within the city subdistrict to 12 cents per 100, the library board’s Phase II will be including a second subdistrict, said Librarian Connie Walker.
Between the voter turnout and responses to a recent survey, the library believes it has a community endorsement.
“There were so many voters from outside the city limits who were disappointed they could not vote,†Walker said. “We want to build on that momentum.â€
Currently, library patrons who do not live within the city subdistrict must pay $30 per year per household.
Moniteau County is one of only two counties in Missouri that does not have a countywide library system. Because of that, patrons also are charged when using the exchange with next-door libraries.
For the western subdistrict to be included in the library levy, a petition must be signed by 5 percent of the voters who participated in that district’s last gubernatorial election.
After the petition, it will become a ballot issue.
The inclusion of the rural subdivision would allow the library to expand its popular services including homebound book delivery to seniors, early literacy programs and its Lego program.