Join us on October 23 for a public meeting and info session for residents of New Garden Township to provide information on the November 5 referendum about funding the Kennett Library. We will meet in the Auditorium at 7 pm. Can't make this date? We're also hosting a meeting on Tuesday, October 29, at 7 PM at the New Garden Township Building.

On Tuesday, November 5, would you please visit your polling place and vote YES for the Kennett Library question on the ballot – a measure that will help provide consistent and much-needed operating funds for the Kennett Library?

Your YES vote is important far beyond the money. It will directly benefit every family in New Garden Township and throughout our community, including yours.

The ballot question asks you to approve about 33¢ a week to be added to your annual property tax bill. This amount – about $17.41 a year for an average household – will help the Kennett Library pay for staff (13 full-time, 25 part-time), provide programs, buy new books and materials, offer computers and internet services, and much more.

Why should you take 15 minutes to vote YES for this?

Here’s what you, your family, and our entire community will receive all year long:

• A free and never-ending supply of books in many formats – from the latest to the classics to e-books and audiobooks - as many as you can read and enjoy.  This alone is worth hundreds of dollars per year. 
• A free, safe, and welcoming place to bring your family for a few hours of exploration, learning, and fun. You don’t need one dime to walk in and enjoy two maker spaces, FREE movies, speaker series/author talks, cultural events, or just a place to get some work done in one of our meeting rooms.
• Great programs for every age. We run hundreds of fun activities for infants and toddlers, plus programs for children, young adults, parents, and seniors.  All for free. 
• Expert staff to help you find books and information and provide guidance on homework and term papers, job searches, and much more. Maker Spaces and Audio-Visual room staff help make your projects a success. 
• Literacy help for people who need it. Your support makes possible our highly successful Adult Literacy program - which has enabled more than 8,000 local folks originally from other countries learn to speak English, as well as to pass their GED, become American Citizens, find jobs and become tax-paying citizens in our community.

What does the ballot question say?

“Do you favor increasing New Garden Township’s Real Estate tax by 0.100 mills, for a total of 0.200 mills with the revenue from such increase to be used exclusively to fund the operation of the Kennett Library? The current real estate property tax is 2.77 mills.”

Yes or No

Why does this referendum matter?

This measure will help establish a consistent base of funding from a dedicated annual library tax in New Garden Township, which will replace the township’s annual contribution requests from the General Fund.

What does Kennett Library offer the community?

The Kennett Library is free and open to everyone six days a week and is the most widely used public service our community offers. More than 200,000 people visit the Kennett Library annually to borrow books, attend programs, rent DVDs, use computers to access the internet, look for jobs and do research, take courses, learn how to read and speak English, and more.

Is a dedicated municipal tax a new approach to funding libraries?

No, not at all – it is common across America. Here in Chester County, Kennett, East Marlborough, Chadds Ford, New Garden, and Easttown Townships, as well as Kennett Square Borough, all have dedicated municipal taxes supporting libraries.

How can I determine exactly how much will it cost me?

Each home’s assessment is different, and your assessment may be higher or lower. For most homes in the Township, the annual cost of this added tax will be between $10 and $35. It’s easy to determine your exact amount. Simply look at your 2024 New Garden Township Property tax bill and find the assessment amount. Multiply this amount by 0.0001 to determine your added annual tax.

What will the funds be used for?

All of the financial support the Kennett Library receives from the eight municipalities it serves, plus PA and Chester County, is only 52% of the cost of operating the Kennett Library. Our budget includes payroll for our 13 full-time staff and 25 part-time staff, books, e-books, access to media and databases, building maintenance, and more.  Kennett Library has all the same costs as any other organization or business.

For more information, please email Kennett Library Director Chris Manna at Kennett@ccls.org