Jefferson County Public Library
Home > Say Yes to Your Library: The Building Improvement Project
Say Yes to Your Library: The Building Improvement Project
Overview
For over 200 years, the Jefferson County Public Library has been a cornerstone of the community. It is open to everyone, of every age, free of charge. But the building that serves us has had no significant renovation since 1964. Six decades later, it's showing its age in ways that limit what your library can do for the community. The Building Improvement Project is our chance to fix that and to protect a public asset our community has already built and relied on for generations. The estimated project cost is about $9.73 million, financed through a bond of up to $10 million repaid over a term of up to 15 years.
What the Project Would Fund
If approved, the bond would fund:
Replacement of the heating and cooling (HVAC) system
Accessibility improvements to meet current ADA standards
Energy-efficiency improvements to the building
Expanded and improved programming, children's, and teen spaces
Why it matters
The heating and cooling system, installed in 2004, is inefficient and increasingly hard to keep running as replacement parts disappear. Drafty windows, thin insulation, and dated lighting reduce the building’s energy efficiency and lead to high energy bills year after year. The accessibility ramp on the west side has settled and water is seeping into the lower level. Book aisles are too narrow for a wheelchair or walker and the restrooms aren’t on the main floor, which means the Library isn’t fully open to every resident.
Over the past 60 years, the ways the community uses the Library have changed, with greater use of programming, technology, seating for personal devices, and gathering space. The children’s area is undersized for current use, and the Library has no dedicated space for teens. Meeting rooms and quiet study and work areas are limited relative to community use.
The direction for these improvements is grounded in community input: as part of its 2025 strategic planning, the Library conducted a community survey asking residents how it could best serve them. Modernizing the building and improving accessibility are part of that ongoing effort, removing barriers so everyone can freely use the Library, and creating welcoming spaces for children, teens, study, meetings, and community programs.
Why a bond
Repairs and improvements of this scale need guaranteed, dedicated funding and a bond is the mechanism Indiana law provides exactly for this purpose. By bringing the request to the County Council, the Library’s fiscal body, the Library is following the process and framework the legislature designed.
The Library actively pursues other funding. It writes grants regularly and partners with the Friends of the Library. But no single grant, donor, or partner can carry a $10 million project on its own.
The Library is also a careful steward of public money. It makes repairs promptly as needs arise, including using Rainy Day funds to upgrade the elevator this year, and covers routine maintenance through its operating budget. The Library is further committing its remaining Rainy Day funds toward this building project, so the bond covers only what those resources cannot.
Cost and tax impact
The Library currently has no debt-service property tax. According to the official estimate, the bond would approximately add a debt-service tax rate of up to $0.0616 per $100 of net assessed value, beginning in 2028. For the county's median-value home, about $194,600, the estimated impact is approximately $4.06 per month, or about $49 per year. The exact amount varies by a property’s value and applicable deductions. These amounts will likely be less, depending on interest rates. A summary of estimated impacts by home value is provided in the Estimated Taxpayer Impact Summary under Official documents below.
The value behind the cost
In 2025, the Library served more than 75,000 people in its buildings and reached over 6,000 more through outreach programs. All told, it returned a conservatively estimated $5.2 million in value to the community that year: books, audiobooks, and ebooks borrowed; public computers and hotspots; meeting rooms; notary and fax services; and hundreds of free programs for children, teens, and adults. A full breakdown of how that figure is calculated is available in the Library’s 2025 Estimated Return on Investment Summary below.
For about the cost of a single paperback a month, residents keep and strengthen a community asset that already gives back millions in services every year. Strong communities need strong libraries.
Where things stand and how you can help
Because the Library's Board of Trustees is an appointed board, the elected Jefferson County Council must approve the bond for it to proceed. The Council considered the resolution in July 2026 and voted to table it. It is expected to take the matter up again at its meeting on October 13, 2026, following the 2027 county budget.
That means the decision is still ahead and your voice matters. Here’s how to help:
Let the County Council know you support the Library Building Improvement Project. Council contact information is available at https://jeffersoncounty.in.gov/259/County-Council.
Attend the County Council meeting on October 13, 2026, when the project is expected to be taken back up. Meetings are open to the public; time and location are posted at https://jeffersoncounty.in.gov/259/County-Council.
Stay informed and spread the word; share this page with neighbors who care about the Library.
Show your support with a button; pick up a button at the Library and wear it around town.
Give to support the Library; the Library welcomes donations year-round at mcjpl.org/support.
Official documents
Questions
Residents may contact the Library at contact@mjcpl.org with questions about the proposed project.
This page is provided for public information about the proposed project and process.