When Benjamin Franklin laid the groundwork for America's first public library, he wanted everyone to have access to books, which were expensive and not readily available. Nearly 300 years later, there are more than 9,000 public library systems and 17,000 branch locations throughout the country.

Most public libraries are funded by local government taxes, which constitute up to 86% of their operating revenue. The Library System of Lancaster County combines government allocations with self-raised funding and donations, a model that has become untenable, said Deb Drury, director of the Elizabethtown Public Library.

Library supporters rallied to get a specific question on the general election ballot. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters will be asked: "Shall the county of Lancaster establish a dedicated library tax to provide for the maintenance of, and aid to, public libraries in Lancaster County at the rate of .55 mills on the dollar on all taxable real estate within the county of Lancaster?"

Drury hopes people will "vote yes for libraries," in support of the county's 17 locations, as well as its bookmobiles.

"The library tax is a property tax because it is the only legal way we can receive dedicated public funding," Drury explained. "We do currently get public funding, but it's not dedicated library funding. Any dollars that come through Lancaster County and local municipalities come through the general fund, and it's up to whomever is making the budget decisions for that year to determine what amount of money libraries are going to get."

Without regulation, financial support varies widely, with some municipalities providing extensive funds and others giving nothing, she said.

"For some of us, like the Elizabethtown Library, we're raising and generating about 60% of our operations each year," Drury said, noting that funds are raised through donation drives, book sales and special events, such as the Taste of Western Lancaster County. "We can raise and generate funds through fines and fees as well, but the percentage of effort required to raise the dollars we need is impossible to sustain."

And, she added, "Any of our funding sources outside of our own can be taken away without notice. To try to provide consistent service with incredibly unstable funding is impossible. Having a dedicated library tax is good for Lancaster County because it gives us stability in funding and the capacity to plan for more than one year at a time."

The library provides much more than books. Patrons can access the Internet, use computers, check out movies, borrow everything from musical instruments to unique cake pans and participate in programs ranging from story time to financial literacy workshops.

Even people who don't use the library can benefit from its existence, Drury added.

"Research shows that having strong public libraries in your community increases the resale value of your home, decreases violent behavior in the community, helps with public safety and increases kindergarten through 12th-grade education scores," she said. "The statistics of having well-funded public libraries for communities shows that the library is a very, very good thing for Lancaster County. When people invest their dollars in the library, the return to the community is exponential."

She emphasized that most of the municipalities surrounding Lancaster County have a library tax already in place, and it's been a goal of Lancaster's system for many years.

"This is a tax, yes, but it's a tax that will pay you back because when you invest in library services, you're not only investing in your community and the value of your community, but you're also investing in your own household," she said. "By paying a library tax, you're helping people have access to even more library services, expanding hours at locations and allowing for shorter wait times for items and a broader collection."

Opposition to the library tax has come from both sides of the political aisle, with opponents worried that countians don't need another tax.

"I support public libraries and believe they provide essential services in our community," said Sen. James Malone, whose district includes parts of Lancaster County. "However, two of the most frequent concerns I hear about from my constituents are that the cost of housing and property taxes are too high. For this reason, I cannot support a plan that would raise property taxes on Lancaster County residents."

Elizabethtown Library assistant Brandon Allen said asking libraries to operate like other nonprofits and raise their own funds does a disservice to the wider community.

"Public services should be funded with public money," he said. "What we do is completely open to anyone; no matter what you think, what you believe, where you come from, our doors are open. We're here to serve and help everyone, and the more we serve and do for the community, the more it costs us."

Drury emphasized that the library also does not want to compete with other nonprofits in the county.

"We don't want to take away funding from anyone. We want to offer the community a sustainable system that provides community resources," she said. "We want the library to continue to be a place of discovery for everyone. In today's world, we need a place where everyone belongs, and that is what the public library is."

To learn more about the proposed library tax, visit https://voteyes4libraries.org.