Supporters of the Hancock Public School Library turned out to the Hancock City Council meeting last night.
The Library is facing deep cuts because of budget issues with the Hancock School District. Residents spoke about how they use the library as a resource, how it connects high school students with adults from the community, the services for seniors that it offers, and the children’s story times.
All expressed hope that the city council could lend some financial support to the facility.
Council members were sympathetic, but City Manager Mary Babcock cautioned that, because the library is associated with the school district, and covers multiple municipalities, it might not be legal to appropriate city funds for it.
Babcock promised to look into the situation. Council members promised to revisit it when they have more information.
The Hancock Public School library has been administered by the Portage Lake District Library for some time, with the Hancock School District covering the cost. The Hancock Library is not part of the Portage Lake Library District.
Former Portage Lake District Library director Dylan Geshel, who is now the executive director of the Michigan Library Association, explained that Library District funds cannot legally be used for services outside the district.
The Hancock Board of Education will be making its final budget decisions at its meeting next month.
