Davenport Public Library is thankful for our amazing community! You can help by telling others why The Library is important.

When you talk about The Library, you are:

• Showing how it helps people learn, have fun, and feel connected
• Telling others about free things they might not know about
• Helping The Library get money to keep doing great things

Here are some messages you can share:

• “Davenport Public Library helps people learn, grow, and have fun.”
• “The Library wants everyone to feel smart and strong in our community.”
• “The Library gives us books, programs, and help to make life better.”
• “The Library is a gift to our future—free books, fun events, and learning for everyone!”

The Library gets money from the City and also from the federal government. One group called IMLS helps libraries all over the country. They give money for things like:

• Sharing books with other libraries
• Online homework help
• Summer reading programs
• Training for library workers

But now, IMLS might be closed, and that could hurt libraries. If that happens, some programs might go away.

Want to learn more? Visit www.saveimls.org.

Federal LSTA funding supports services provided by the State Library of Iowa, benefitting Iowa libraries and residents. For Davenport Public Library, these services include:

• IA Shares Delivery Service: A twice-weekly delivery system supporting the sharing of materials among Iowa libraries. Last year, Davenport patrons borrowed 46,803 items from other libraries, and Davenport Public Library provided 34,308 items to other Iowa libraries.
• Brainfuse: Digital resources supported by IMLS funding offering homework assistance, tutoring, career services, veteran support, and more. Davenport patrons accessed Brainfuse over 3,078 times last year.
• Accreditation and Standards: Davenport Public Library has maintained continuous accreditation since 1986, ensuring high-quality library services for our community.
• Endorsement Program: Provides professional development, recognition, and foundational knowledge for librarians and library directors. Our director holds a gold-level endorsement, and all librarians are endorsed as professional librarians.
• State of Iowa Libraries Online (SILO): An interlibrary loan platform facilitating resource sharing. Last year, Davenport residents extensively used SILO in 2024-25 due to transition challenges with our primary out-of-state partner, MOBIUS.
• Continuing Education: Ongoing professional training for library directors, librarians and library workers, and library trustees. Library employees attend many training sessions throughout the year.
• Summer Reading Program: Davenport participates in the statewide Summer Reading Challenge, with 1,567 children and families participating last year.

The potential loss of these federal funds would significantly impact small and rural libraries. Smaller libraries often lack the budgets to fund these services independently. In addition to summer reading programs, IMLS funding supports initiatives such as All Iowa Reads, website and technology assistance, STEM to Go and Storytime Kits, digital databases, and the People's Law Library of Iowa.

Special Library Levy

In 2003, people in Davenport voted to give a little extra money to The Library through taxes. This helped build and run the Fairmount and Eastern branches.

But in 2023, a new law stopped that extra money.

Now, some libraries—especially in small towns—are having a hard time.

People who care about libraries are asking lawmakers to bring the extra money back.

You can help by telling your leaders why libraries are important!

DETAILS: The levy was a local voter-approved property tax that allowed residents to tax themsleves $0.27 per $1,000 assessed value to provide for enhanced library service in their community. This Issue Brief highlights the challenges faced by institutions and communities that previously relied on the levies eliminated by HF718. Numerous libraries and museums that depend on this funding are experiencing significant difficulties, particularly in rural areas, should the levies not be restored. A call to action has been issued by those in the library and museum community, as the legislature is currently deliberating additional property tax bills, HSB313/SSB1208 & SSB1227, and advocates believe this represents the best chance for the restoration of the levies.

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