Fairmount Public Library in Grant County faces possible closure

BY MISHELE WRIGHT, Chronicle-Tribune 
mdwright@marion.gannett.com

Libraries in small towns may be consolidated under proposed state property tax reform plans, which could result in the libraries becoming a branch of larger systems - such as the Marion Public Library.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has appointed a committee to discuss local government reform, which includes property tax funding. Linda Magers, director of the Fairmount Public Library, said, while it is not a for sure thing, the smaller libraries likely would be combined into Marion's library system because it's the largest one in the county. What the committee decides will affect how Fairmount's library is funded, Magers said. The branch receives funding from Grant and Madison counties currently, but has not received all its money this year because of property tax problems.