The Charlotte Community Library strives to provide equitable service to everyone in the community. To do so, the Library has to decide from where the funding for the services will come. Sometimes it’s an easy decision. If the Library receives a grant or memorial donation for a specific service or project, then the money goes directly into that.
The Library receives its funding from a variety of sources. The primary revenue generator is our millage from the residents and businesses in the City of Charlotte and in Carmel and Eaton Townships. The millage accounts for nearly 90% of our annual budget. The Library is also funded by penal fines and state aid from the city of Charlotte as well as Carmel and Eaton Townships. In addition to our millage area, the Library receives penal fines and state aid through contracts with the City of Olivet, Brookfield, Chester, Walton, and Lee Townships. Lee Township is in Calhoun County. Residents outside of these cities and townships pay for a fee card that helps fund the Library.
Access to Library services is determined by whether a resident pays a millage. If one pays for a millage, one has a right to a Full Access Library card. Those who live in cities or townships that support the library only through penal fines and state aid have Contract Library cards. Full Access patrons can check out up to 10 physical items, interlibrary loan through MEL , and have full access to our electronic services while Contract Library patrons check out two physical items and do not have access to most electronic services.
Respecting the generous support the Library receives from the millage area as well as the desire to give everyone service, the Library Board decided to provide more access to the contract areas. As of December 2022, contract area residents can now check out four physical items and access Libby, which allows them to check out eBooks, audiobooks, eMagazines and more. Offering these services to the contract areas will not cause an increase in the Library’s budget.
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