Legislation Could Affect Library Funding

House Bill 2605 Update -  The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library District Act, which would “detach” the city of Auburn from library services, pending action by the Auburn City Council. Action has been taken by the by the Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government, and the Bill is scheduled on the Senate Calendar.

HB 2605 amends the Topeka-Shawnee County Library District Act to establish a procedure for the detachment of territory located within the city of Auburn by passage of a resolution of the Auburn city governing body from the district. The resolution would be subject to a protest petition and election procedure by the city voters. The library district would be required to detach the territory upon presentation of the resolution of the city of Auburn requesting the action following the protect petition period or following a favorable election on the issue. The detachment would be effective on January 1 of the succeeding year. The Senate Committee amended the bill to make the resolution of the Auburn city governing body subject to a ten percent protest petition and election procedure. Other technical amendments were also made.

Background

The bill was supported by Representative Doug Mays, Speaker of the House. The bill was opposed by David Leamon, executive director of the Topeka and Shawnee County Library.

The other issue created by this bill is that of a popular vote. The residents of Auburn voted in an election to create and support the Topeka Shawnee County Library in 1996. 

Services provided by the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Currently, the city of Auburn (based on a population of 1,121 – 2000 Census) contributes approximately $42,000 in support of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Auburn residents receive these services from the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library within the Auburn city limits:

• Bookmobile service at the Apple Market every Saturday for 3 hours, except on the 5th Saturday of the month. Bookmobile materials represent a collection that exceeds 650,000 volumes including almost 59,000 DVDs, CDs and Videos
• Red Carpet service to the Auburn Meal Site for Senior Citizens every other week
• Red Carpet service to the Valley Springs Assisted Living Center every other week
• AdventureMobile, the children’s mobile library, provides library collections and special programs for children each summer
• Special programs to Auburn Elementary School by the Bookmobile staff
• Outreach programs to Auburn Elementary School by the Youth Services staff
• Books-by-mail program providing access to the entire collection of the library simply by logging into the on-line catalog or calling on the telephone
• On-line access 24 hours a day to electronic resources that are only available with a TSCPL library card or by paid subscriptions. Over 100 databases representing a wide range of subjects

In addition to the services provided within the city limits of Auburn, residents have unrestricted access to the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library daily, 78 hours every week. The TSCPL library card provides: 

• Access to the entire library collection, the Sabatini Gallery, Special Collections, Red Carpet Services, the Media Center, and a professional reference staff to answer any question you may have
• On-site access to over 170 computers that provide access to the Internet and a wide range of other resources including word processing and spreadsheet software
• Access to five computers that contain special adaptive equipment for the physically challenged, plus assistive devices for vision and hearing 
• Free computer training seven days per week
• Classes for you and your children to learn safe, responsible surfing on the Internet 
• Book discussions led by experienced Library staff
• Regularly scheduled film series presentations
• Story time programming for children of all ages
• Special events including music festivals and author talks
• Telephone reference service available 78 hours a week
• Homework help center for children grades 1-12 provided by certified teachers and volunteers

For more information call 785-580-4486.

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