Scott, director of the White Oak Library District, gave Crest Hill City Council an informational presentation on a referendum question that will appear on the April 1 ballot.

The district is not asking the council to take a position, Scott said. “I’m not asking any way to vote any 1 way or another,” he told elected officials. He described three main goals the district would use the revenue to accomplish: restore some Sunday hours and extend late Friday hours; expand outreach, including a bookmobile; and pay for growing digital content such as ebooks and streaming services.

The measure’s estimated local tax impact, Scott said, would be about $20 per year for the “average home” in the library district, which the presenter said is valued at roughly $235,000. If voters approve the question, the district expects to begin using the funds in the budget year that starts July 1, 2026.

Why it matters: The district said its population skews older—about one in four residents are seniors—and planners want to increase services for both seniors and young children. Scott said digital lending is growing rapidly and is expensive for libraries: he gave one example that a newly released ebook can cost the district about $80 while a print copy might cost $20; digital licenses are often single-user and time- or usage-limited.

Council members and members of the public voiced support for the library’s mission. A resident who spoke during the meeting told the council, “Reading is critical to children,” and described formative experiences reading school library books. Another resident praised the Libby app and said the district’s ebooks and audiobooks are heavily used.

The district’s presentation packet—provided to council members and said to be available on the district website—includes a longer FAQ sheet the presenter identified as the primary information source for residents interested in the referendum. Scott also noted that the White Oak Library District is 103 years old and that the last time the public approved an operating levy was in 1929.

Ending: The presentation was informational; council did not take action. Council members asked where residents could get more information; the presenter said details are on the library’s website and in the packet materials distributed to council members.