From Legislation Could Affect Library Funding, 2004-03-02

(TOPEKA. KS-Tuesday, March 2, 2004) Members of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Board of Trustees attended the Auburn City Council meeting on March 1, to discuss House Bill 2605, currently being considered by the Kansas Legislature. This bill would enable the Auburn City Council to withdraw the City of Auburn from the taxing district of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library that currently provides funding for library services to all residents in Shawnee County.

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“This action sets a disturbing precedent in public funding policy,” said Bruce Henriksen, chairman of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Board of Trustees. “The citizens of Shawnee County voted to support a community library to provide services. If HB 2605 is passed, the Auburn City Council will have the option to withdraw the City of Auburn from the library district at any time they choose in the future. The library will never know its boundaries and what funds are available each year. Where does this stop? The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library was created for all citizens of Shawnee County, including the residents of Auburn, not just Topeka”.

EDITOR: Heh, heh,... in the same article where they are trying to prevent one of their satellite libraries from leaving the tax district, they display this graphic...

Here we have a small town trying to exert local control over their tax base and library services but the "big city/county" library board (and director David Leamon) doing everything they can to prevent it... and still saying, "It's YOUR Library!"