More Questions Do we still need libraries in the digital age? Haven’t they been replaced by the Internet? Do people in St. Tammany use libraries? I don’t use the library now so why should I pay for new libraries? I like my little town library. Why do we need bigger ones? Why do we need regional libraries? Could our money be better spent on new books? The library’s budget has been going up due to increases in property values and growth. Why can’t they afford to build new libraries with the money they have now? My taxes are too high already, and they keep getting higher! How come people from other parishes can use our libraries at our expense? I’m retired and live on a fixed income. I can’t afford any more property tax hikes! Will renters pay their share for the new libraries?

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Do we still need libraries in the digital age? Haven’t they been replaced by the Internet? Having electronic media and equipment available in our public libraries ensures that all citizens in St. Tammany Parish have equal access to the most current technology and information. In addition, the library provides free access to databases that contain reference and journal material that is not available on the Internet. Further, your librarians are always ready to help you to find, access, and use electronic information. So yes, we definitely need libraries in the digital age. What’s more, electronic resources have actually increased libraries’ need for space. Libraries need room for computer labs, distance learning centers, shelves for videos, CDs, DVDs, and audio books. Back to: Top Do people in St. Tammany use libraries? Yes! Over 51% of all the people in St. Tammany have library cards, and they check out an average of 4.4 books per person, which is 10% higher than the state average. Nationally, libraries issue more cards than Visa, have more children enrolled in summer programs than Little League, and have more visitors each week than all museums and zoos combined! (Source: 2000 New York Public Library Calendar of  Facts) Back to: Top I don’t use the library now so why should I pay for new libraries? Visit your library just once to see what we have to offer, and you just might decide that a weekly visit is in order! After all, using your library is the best way to get your tax money back. Just check out a few books, DVDs, or audio books, attend a program, or bring a child to storytime, and you’ve gotten your money’s worth. Just think: a current best seller would cost you $26.95 at a bookstore; at your library, everything is free. And new libraries will offer even more resources and services for you to take advantage of. Back to: Top I like my little town library. Why do we need bigger ones? Our little libraries can no longer meet the demands of our citizens. The Building Committee has recommended that we build Community Libraries to replace many of our smallest libraries. Community Libraries will house a collection of at least 35,000 volumes and range in size from 15,000 to 25,000 square feet. Some of the benefits they will offer include: More items to check out Separate areas for children and teens Quiet reading rooms for adults Small meeting rooms More parking Back to: Top Why do we need regional libraries? Regional libraries are needed to house full library collections. St. Tammany Parish residents should not have to travel to Orleans, Jefferson, or Baton Rouge to find the items they need. Regional libraries will house larger meeting rooms and auditoriums for community groups and events. They will contain specialized collections computer labs distance learning centers art exhibits and displays children’s program space teen centers quiet reading rooms Back to: Top Could our money be better spent on new books? Your St. Tammany Parish Library’s shelves are already crammed with books. When we buy newly published books for the library, we’re often forced to take something else that is still in demand off the shelves. STPL agrees that one of our main functions is to provide you with the materials you want and need. This is why STPL spends more on books than its peer libraries, spending 14% of its budget on materials compared to the national average of 10%. The problem is that the current collection size of one-half million items is much too large for the buildings that house it! And this problem will only continue to grow as we purchase additional materials. Back to: Top The library’s budget has been going up due to increases in property values and growth. Why can’t they afford to build new libraries with the money they have now? The library is a very careful steward of the taxpayer’s money. STPL voluntarily rolled back the millage in both 1997 and 2004. We believe that public should have the opportunity to vote on large funding increases, such as those required for an extensive capital building campaign. Recent increases in revenue have been used to improve services to meet demand. Since the last new library was built, STPL has provided a computerized card catalog computer workstations for patrons electronic databases two new branch libraries (Causeway and Pontchartrain) and their expansions a teen services librarian and a teen center at the Pontchartrain Branch expansion of community programs such as bookclubs, cooking programs and teen nights videos, DVDs, CDs, and audio books The library’s current funding is not authorized for building new libraries. Facing a drastic need for more space over the past ten years, STPL has leased facilities in order to open two new branches. The rental money for the leased branches comes out of the money used to buy books and pay staff. If the library leased all the space it currently needs, there would be no money for books! Leasing is a temporary solution. Back to: Top My taxes are too high already, and they keep getting higher! You currently pay an average of only $18.89 per capita for your library, a rate considerably below the state average of $25.39. STPL voluntarily rolled back the millage in both 1997 and 2004. We want to be good stewards of the public’s money and trust. We believe that the most principled way to increase public funding is to tell you what our plans are and then to allow you to vote on it. St. Tammany Parish citizens pay less per capita for their libraries, yet they patronize these libraries regularly, checking out 10% more books than the state average. STPL puts your money to good use! Back to: Top How come people from other parishes can use our libraries at our expense? Out of Parish or non-resident library cards currently cost $15.00 per year which is roughly equivalent to the per capita amount residents pay in taxes for using the library. When the millage is passed by the voters to build the new libraries, the non-resident library card fee will be increased by a proportionate amount so that non-residents will continue to pay their fair share. Back to: Top I’m retired and live on a fixed income. I can’t afford any more property tax hikes! The library has so much to offer retired citizens. We have large-print books, books on tape or CD, and programs like Cook by the Book, book clubs and the Knitting and Sipping Society. If you take advantage of these opportunities, you’ll surely get your money’s worth. Plus, if you’re at least 65 and your adjusted gross income is less than $56,744, you can fill out a form at the assessor’s office which will prevent your home from being reassessed. This can help to alleviate the effects of future tax increases. Back to: Top Will renters pay their share for the new libraries? Renters do pay property taxes, if not directly. Landowners figure property taxes into rental fees. When property taxes go up, so does rent. Back to: Top Back to: Building Program Last updated 8/11/2005. Copyright © St. Tammany Parish Library All Rights Reserved. Unofficial and external sites are not endorsed by the St. Tammany Parish Library.