Huntley Library Considers Extending Services to Unserved Area

 is considering extending its district boundary and wants feedback on the idea, officials said.

A special meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. Monday, March 5, at the library, 11000 Ruth Road.

The library would extend services to about 10 households south of Freeman Road, an area that does not fall within any library district, said Library Director Patrick McDonald.

McDonald said the library board is looking for feedback from those directly affected by the extension as well as other library patrons.

“We are hoping to hear what people think, positively or negatively, regarding whether we want service extended to the area,” he said.

Some of the homes have Huntley addresses but a few have Gilberts addresses, he said. The area, abutting Big Timber Road to the south and Freeman Road to the east, is south of the library’s boundary. Most of the area is open land, but portions could be developed in the future.

A trial service was offered to residents in that area from Nov. 1 until last month. The residents were able to use the library’s services for free. Those households usually have to purchase a library card from a neighboring library. In Huntley, the cost is about $153, he said.

Extending the library’s services would not be a financial strain on its resources since it would affect 10 households at this point, McDonald said. Nor would it affect the amount of taxes the library district receives due to the state tax cap, he said.

McDonald does not know the history of the area in question, nor why it was never included in a library district.