Task A Four: Preliminary Districting Decisions

Now you should begin making preliminary decisions about what the proposed library district will look like. Assessment Phase Form D: Geographical/Social Analysis at the end of this section will help you gather data about the area.

Look at every possible option for providing service for your community. In general larger districts can provide better library services, since they have a stronger financial base and there will be less duplication of services. For communities located far from an existing library, it might be possible for a district to provide better service through a branch, bookmobile, or books-by-mail program.

Montana Code Annotated 22-1-701 states that the territory within a new library district must contain a taxable value of at least $5 million. Check to see if your proposed district meets this requirement. The county clerk can usually give the group information about the assessed value of a proposed district. If the proposed district doesn't meet this requirement explore other options, such as increasing the boundaries or asking an existing library to join you.

If the proposed district surrounds or is contiguous to other public libraries' service area, confer with those library boards. At this point boards may not be willing to commit to major changes in their operations, but they may be willing to examine possible options in working with a new district. Once they have decided that a new district may benefit them, the library board may be willing to take a leading role in the project.

When planning your district boundaries, look at social and geographical patterns that might affect the new district. Mapping can help you in this process. Begin with a high quality map of the county or counties involved. Mark cities, schools, libraries, and library branches on the map.

Figure out the patterns of travel within and outside of the potential district by using topographical and road maps. Look at the natural barriers in your area - geographical features such as mountains and rivers. What places are easy to get to; what places are more difficult to reach? Are some parts of the potential district connected to areas outside the district?

Work with your county and/or city clerk to discover the boundaries of other districts, such as weed, mosquito, school, fire, etc. The counties and the Department of Revenue like new districts to follow these established districts' lines. It is best to work with local government officials when determining logical boundaries. However, remember to consider library service needs. Sometimes existing district lines do not make sense when it comes to providing quality library services.

Begin evaluating the various alternatives, once you have finished mapping the potential district area.

Once you have gathered and analyzed this information, think about what it will mean for a districting project. Different social and economic patterns may make one form of districting project preferable to another. Look at the various options open to you. There are six alternatives for creating a public library district. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages.

1. Establishment Territory that contains no library can be formed into a library district. The new district can set up its own library and provide services itself. Advantage to this method is that the new district has a great deal of control over the service it will provide. Disadvantages are that setting up a new library takes a tremendous amount of work. If there are other libraries in the area, there may be difficulties working out reciprocal arrangements.
2. Establishment/Contract Service Territory that contains no library can be formed into a library district, but the new district does not provide services itself. Instead it contracts with an existing library to provide services to its residents. Advantage of this system is that the new district does not have to set up its own library. Disadvantages are that the district must negotiate a contract with a library that does provide services. This gives it less control and at times there may be major conflicts between the district and the contracting library.
3. Establishment/Existing Library Territory that includes one existing city or county library can be formed into a district that serves the city or county and surrounding area. Advantages of this option are that the district does not have to set up a new library, and the district controls the services. Disadvantages in the city library scenario are that"rural" residents may feel that the city controls all of the services and that the district is a way of making rural residents pay for city services. This would not necessarily be true in the case of a county library becoming a district, since all residents pay county taxes.
4. Establishment/City Library Combination Territory that includes two or more city libraries can be formed into a district that includes untaxed territory that connects the cities together. Advantages of this option are that the district does not have to set up a new library, and the district controls the services. Disadvantages are that much work will be required to coordinate the services between the branches and to assure that the different communities feel that they are treated fairly.
5. Establishment/County Library Combination Territory that includes two or more county libraries can be formed into a district. Advantages of this option are that the district does not have to set up a new library, and the district controls the services. Disadvantages are that the two counties must work through their different government structures and find common ground to negotiate a district. Much work will be required to coordinate services and to assure that the different communities feel that they are treated fairly.
6. Establishment/County-City Library Combination Territory that includes one or more county libraries and one or more city libraries can be formed into a district. Advantages of this option are that the district does not have to set up a new library, and the district controls the services. Disadvantages are that the county and city must work through their different government structures and find common ground to negotiate a district. Much work will be required to coordinate services and to assure that the different communities feel that they are treated fairly.

Working in Stages

There may be political or legal advantages to working through a district creation. Examine alternative methods of achieving the same objective during the assessment stage.

Examine All Possiblities

Any possibility that meets the requirements of Montana law should be considered. [See MCA 22-1-701 through 22-1-711 in Addendum A.] Assess the advantages and disadvantages of each option. [Assessment Phase Form E: Districting Option Assessment at the end of this section can help.] The result of task four should be a preliminary description of a possible district.