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.

Celebrating Our Community’s Commitment

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the volunteers and library champions who dedicated countless hours to educate and engage the community. Your efforts have led to this fantastic outcome, which will benefit all residents of Great Falls and Cascade County.

Transforming Library Services with Your Support

With the increased funding, we’re thrilled to announce several exciting improvements and expansions in our services.

• Free Parking: We’ve listened to your feedback that parking fees were a barrier. Parking at the Great Falls Public Library is now FREE!
• Extended Hours: Access to the library just got easier. We’re now open 7 days a week, with hours increased from 52 to 63 per week.
• Enhanced Bookmobile and Homebound Services: Responding to community requests, the Bookmobile now operates 6 days a week, and we’ve reinstated our Homebound Program to support seniors and community members with disabilities.
• Boosting Early Literacy: Early literacy is a top priority. We’ve hired two new Library Specialists for Youth Services and are expanding programs to help parents prepare their children for kindergarten.
• Enriching Programs for Youth and Teens: We are committed to supporting our young patrons. We’ve added two more Youth Services Specialists to expand offerings for school-age students and teens, including a new chess club, ongoing Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, an expanded Library Loot Box program, and more outreach planned for the next school year.
• Enhancing Library Safety: Thanks to the mill levy passing, we are thrilled to have two full-time Safety Specialists on staff. These dedicated professionals are actively patrolling the Library and grounds during open hours, engaging positively with patrons, and ensuring a safe and welcoming environment. Their focus on de-escalation and community connection is fostering a more secure and harmonious space for everyone.
• Boosting Digital Resources: We’re excited to see a significant increase in the promotion and usage of our digital resources. The popularity of digital checkouts and online databases like Chilton, Mango Languages, and LinkedIn Learning is soaring. Since January 2023, we’ve ramped up our efforts to highlight these resources, including adding a fantastic new Overdrive Magazines section to our weekly Wowbrary newsletter.
• Expanding Community Engagement: Over the past year, we have greatly expanded our community engagement initiatives. We’re now offering a wider range of educational and recreational programs, including computer and technology classes, and providing enhanced services for businesses, entrepreneurs, and job seekers. Our partnerships with GFPS, GFDA, GFC-MSU, Raising Readers, and the Little Shell Tribe are creating more opportunities for a wide variety of adult programming. This summer, we’re excited to bring you events like Summer Music in the Library Park, Shakespeare in the Park, Waking the Dead, Juneteenth celebrations, and much more!

Our Promise to You

We are dedicated to making smart, transparent investments with the new funds. The Library Board of Trustees has approved an ambitious set of objectives to ensure we deliver concrete, positive results to our community.

Thank you for believing in the power of our library. Together, we are building a brighter future for Great Falls, connecting people to the knowledge and resources they need!