Establishing a City Library: Since 1890, when Paris and Valeria Gibson, and Robert Vaughn, contributed toward the establishment of the first library, the people of Great Falls have enjoyed the benefits. The City of Great Falls assumed operation of the library in 1892. City Ordinance 341 establishing the Library was adopted in 1910 and the ordinances were updated in 2017.
Signing a Management Agreement: In 1993, the City of Great Falls and the Library Board signed an agreement “to provide a basis for cooperation between the Library Board and the City for more efficient management of library services.” The agreement established the relationship between the City and the Library Board and established that the City would “support the library budget in the amount of at least seven (7) mills.”
Current City/Library Management Agreement (PDF)
Passage of the Library Levy: In June of 2023, the Great Falls community came together to vote in favor of amending Article I, Section 3 of the Charter of the City of Great Falls. This crucial decision to levy up to 17 mills –an increase of 15 mills — generates approximately $1,785,000. These funds are vital for the operation, maintenance and capital needs of the Great Falls Public Library.
We are profoundly grateful to the voters of Great Falls for investing in our community’s future. Your support empowers us to enhance our services and make the library an even more vibrant and accessible hub for everyone.
Updating the Management Agreement: In March 2024, the City requested the Library open the current Agreement for negotiations to update the language and to help find possible sources of funding for Public Safety needs. The City Renegotiation Committee (City Manager Greg Doyon, City Commissioners Joe McKenney and Susan Wolfe, and City Attorney David Dennis) and the Library Renegotiation Committee (Director Susie McIntyre, board members Whitney Olson and Anne Bulger and attorney Bill Bronson) have been meeting for the past 7 months.
On August 28, 2024, the City Renegotiation Committee presented their “last, best, final offer.” This offer names the library director as an administrative liaison rather than department head. It provides for 3.5 mills for the next two fiscal years and then reduces the city’s support of the library to 0 in following years. Removing the library director from the department head team will reduce governmental efficiency and collaboration. Reducing the Library funding will severely reduce Library services for the citizens of Great Falls who just voted to expand services.
The Library Board met on September 5, 2024 to consider the City’s offer and a proposal from the Library Negotiation Committee. In a rejection of the City’s offer, the Library Board approved the Library Negotiation Committee’s proposal.
The Library Board is pleased that the City has re-opened negotiations and both sides are working to develop a proposal that meets the needs of our community. We will continue to keep the public informed about this important issue.
