Muskego Library meets Waukesha County standards for tax exemption and funding commitments

The City of Muskego's Library Board has taken significant steps to ensure continued funding and service excellence for its community library. During a recent meeting on May 20, 2025, board members discussed the importance of meeting Waukesha County Library standards, which, if adhered to, allow Muskego residents to be exempt from the county library tax.

A key focus of the meeting was the library's performance metrics, particularly the library services effort ratio. This ratio measures the library's lending activities to both residents and other communities. The board reported a successful achievement of 105% against a target of 90%, indicating that Muskego is effectively serving its patrons while not overburdening other libraries in the system.

To maintain this exemption from the county tax, the board must secure a commitment from the city council for a certain level of funding by mid-August or September. This funding is crucial as it directly impacts the library's ability to meet minimum expenditure standards for materials, which is set at $5.64 per capita. In 2024, Muskego exceeded this minimum with an expenditure of $6.04 per capita, and the board anticipates meeting this standard again in 2025.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of community support, including donations for library programs, although it was clarified that these donations do not typically contribute to material purchases. The board emphasized that maintaining high standards is essential for the library's operational success and community service.

Looking ahead, the library will temporarily close for up to a week for parking lot renovations, but this will not affect staffing levels or the number of hours the library is open weekly. Staff will continue to work on cataloging materials and planning programs during this time.

Overall, the meeting underscored the library's commitment to providing quality services while navigating funding challenges and operational standards, ensuring that Muskego residents continue to benefit from their local library resources.