The Hancock Public Schools library will continue serving students and the community for at least one more year after the Portage Lake District Library Board agreed to a new operating contract Tuesday.
The partnership, that began in 2018, has provided library services to both the school and residents of Hancock. The renewed agreement keeps the doors open through the 2026-2027 school year while officials work toward sustainable long-term funding.
“We will have to engage in those conversations more frequently and probably more intensively to see what possible solutions can be identified for long-term funding,” Superintendent Chris Salani said. “As the district sits right now, we’re hopeful that the budget will continue to work and (we) will ensure that we’re being fiscally responsible.”
The library has operated in the red in recent years, creating budget pressures for the school district. Sylvia Matthews, president of the Portage Lake District Library Board of Directors, said community support for the library was overwhelming.
“We know what a great library Hancock has and we know how wonderful their library manager Bonnie is,” Matthews said. “We got a lot of feedback from the people that use that library from the community. I have hundreds of emails.”
The financial strain prompted both organizations to explore alternatives. Matthews emphasized the current arrangement cannot continue indefinitely.
“It doesn’t seem like a sustainable situation,” she said. “We’ve been spending time with the budget committee talking about fundraising for our own library, a key to helping the situation. It cannot continue that the school has to pay for the Hancock School Public Library.”
Salani said the district and library will pursue multiple avenues to secure the library’s future beyond next year.
“We just know right now for this next 26-27 cycle, we’re kind in a fixed capacity,” Salani said. “We do have to work towards these probable or potential solutions that might be available to us.”
One possibility under consideration is a millage proposal. For a measure to appear on the November 2026 ballot, officials must finalize the language by August 11. More discussions about funding opportunities are scheduled for this month.
Community members interested in supporting the Hancock Public Schools library can contact Superintendent Salani to learn about ways to get involved with a Friends of the Library group.
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