FAQ’s About Sycamore Public Library Funding and Services

What percent of my taxes go to the Sycamore Public Library?
2.39% of your total tax bill is paid to the Sycamore Public Library so that you and your family may have library services.

What do I get for my Sycamore Public Library tax dollars?
Helpful, knowledgeable, conscientious staff.
More than six million books, movies, music, and audio books for all ages and abilities that can be used in the library or borrowed for a period of time.
Access to reliable online databases, including thousands of full-text magazines and journals articles.
National, regional and local newspapers for use in the library.
Access to computers for connecting to the Internet or using Microsoft Office software.
Free access to wireless Internet in the library.
Entertaining and educational programs for children, adults, and families.
Your own personal research and entertainment center.

When Can I Use the Sycamore Public Library?
The Library is open 338 days in 2008, and is scheduled to be open 337 days in 2009. The hours are Monday through Thursday 9 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sundays (September through May) 1 pm to 5 pm for a total of 68 hours per week during the school year and 64 hours a week in the summer. That is more than 3,200 hours per year.

Use of the library is not limited to the hours that the building is open. Sycamore Public Library is available to you 24 hours a day 7 days a week with an Internet connection and your library card. With these tools, you can ask questions on the Ask?Away Illinois link from our website, download audio-books, read e-books, and complete research using of the 10 subscription databases which include full-text magazine and journal articles printable from your own printer.

What would it cost if I shopped instead borrowed from the library?
If you don’t use the library, in a year you might pay for:
2 Best Sellers $ 49.36
1 Travel Guide to . . .(place of your choice) $ 17.56
2 People and 1 Celebrity Hairstyles magazines $ 15.89
1 trade paperback you thought looked good but never read $ 14.98
2 paperbacks bought in the airport or grocery store line $ 17.42
2 DVDs purchased $ 42.98
75 Black and white and 25 color copies made at an Office Supply store$ 19.00
100 DVD rentals through the mail $ 167.88
Shopping Expenses $ 344.05
Library property tax $ 130.90
Total Cost for the year $ 474.95

What does it cost for my family to use the library?
For equivalent services, your cost for using the library might be:
Library property tax $130.90
Unlimited loans on books, magazines, audio books, databases, etc. included
100 DVD rentals (you can borrow as many you want at 50¢ per DVD) $ 50.00
50 days of late fees (Or you may have none) $ 5.00
75 black and white copies or and 25 color prints (optional) $ 20.00
Total Cost per year $205.90

By using the library, you can save: $269.05 or more a year

So, where did you get that $130.90 Library Property tax?
If you live within the City Limits of Sycamore, you pre-pay for library service as part of your property taxes. Currently, Sycamore’s average home value is $211,197. The property EAV for that home would be 70,399. This number is multiplied by the library tax rate of .0018598 to get $130.90. Depending upon the value of your home, you may pay more or less than this amount.
The library’s tax rate has decreased by 26.9% since 2001. The actual rate has gone from .2545 down to .18598.

Are tax dollars the only funds that pay to run the Library?
No, property taxes are is 81% of the total expected income for the year. The other 19% comes from grants, fees, interest earned, and gifts and memorials to the library.

What about people who don’t live within the City Limits?
Homes outside of the Sycamore city limits do not pay any property tax dollars toward the Public Library. They have the opportunity to purchase an annual card at the same rate as that paid by residents on their tax bill. The process for determining the annual fee is the same one used to calculate property tax amounts for residents.

What if I have additional questions?
Contact Sarah Tobias, Sycamore Public Library Director, 815-895-2500 or email her at saraht@sycamorelibrary.org.

What is an EAV?
Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) - The equalized assessed value, or EAV, is the result of applying the state equalization factor to the assessed value of a parcel of property. Tax bills are calculated by multiplying the EAV (after any deductions for homesteads) by the tax rate. For more information about understanding your tax bill, you may want to look at the following link.