For those who are new to Nebraska, no, not everyone in Nebraska has a free public library. Including those who don't live within city limits, and for a long time, that included people who lived in military housing. Why?Nebraska libraries are supported by city taxes. Therefore, if you don't live in the city & pay city taxes, you aren't entitled to "free" library service. (I put the "free" in quotes because you are, in fact, paying for library service via property taxes. However, a $100K house in Bellevue has something like $50 in property taxes given to the Bellevue Public Library, where if you walk in as a non-resident and ask to sign up, they'll charge you $25. A pretty good deal in my book.)
But what about Douglas County? Well, Douglas County hands over a certain amount of taxes to the Omaha Public Library so that all Douglas County residents have access to the Omaha Public Library system.
This was the state of affairs until a year or two ago. At that time, in appreciation for the sacrifices of military personnel, the Omaha Public Library decided to offer active duty personnel a free library card to the OPL system. Then the Bellevue Public Library offered free cards to active duty & their families.
And that's the current state of affairs. Not that there aren't those in Sarpy County who like the Douglas County model . . .
Currently Reading: "Over the Edge" by Suzanne Brockmann
Currently Listening To: "Legends of the Fall" soundtrack
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