SHELBY — In 1903, just six years after Marvin Memorial Library first opened its doors, the people of Shelby voted to support it with a public tax levy.
More than 120 years later, the tradition of public support continues.
On May 6, the library is asking voters to approve a 1.75 mill property tax renewal on the primary ballot. This is not a new tax, but a continuation of existing support that provides nearly half of the library’s annual budget.
If passed, the five-year renewal would generate around $561,000 per year, helping to fund everything from WiFi hotspots to children’s storytimes and job-seeking resources.
For the average homeowner, the cost would remain about $61 per $100,000 of property value.
Built on service
Over the years, the role of Marvin Memorial Library has evolved far beyond books on shelves.
“We have a reach for everyone, no matter who you are or where you come from,” said Aileen Stewart, president of the library’s Board of Trustees. “Everyone is welcome here.”
The levy, which was first introduced 10 years ago, helps fund additional services including:
- Free public computers, WiFi, and circulating laptops.
- Outreach services and home delivery for residents who can’t visit in person.
- Children’s programming, homeschool meetups and educational tools.
- Materials like books, magazines, DVDs, games, and digital databases.
- Staff and operations that keep the library running six days a week.
Combined with funding from Ohio’s Public Library Fund, public funding makes up over 90% of the library’s operating budget — which is why libraries and its patrons are alarmed at the latest state budget that would reduce public library funding by $100 million.
“This makes passing the levy even more important because we don’t know what our state and federal funding is going to look like yet,” Stewart said. “If they drastically cut it, libraries without levies will probably cease to exist.”
History
Though Marvin Memorial Library was officially organized as a school district public library in 1925, its origins go back even further.
In 1897, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union opened a small reading room on East Main Street. Rent was $14 a month. Visitors paid a membership fee to browse.
Today, the library is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees serving the Marvin Memorial Library District. Stewart has been a member of the board for eight years, serving as president the past four.
“We are what’s called a school district library, meaning the community we serve is the same as the school district,” she explained.
“Everything within Shelby City Schools is the community we service as a library.”
The Shelby City Schools District acts as the taxing authority in a ministerial role, but all decisions about the levy — including whether to request one — rest solely with the library board.
What’s next
The current levy is set to expire in December 2025. If approved, the renewal will keep funding steady through 2030.
Stewart noted the levy’s first renewal in 2020 was passed with more than 50% of the vote.
She hopes this is a sign that the Shelby community loves their library and wants to support it.
“Libraries in general are important but speaking for Shelby, our motto is, ‘We are the heart of the community.’ And I really believe that,” she said.