Madison Valley Public Library

The Big Sky Community Improvement Plan includes an initiative to explore the creation of a new library district that would allow for the levying of additional property taxes.

Currently, libraries in Madison County, including the Madison Valley Public Library (MVPL) in Ennis, the Thompson-Hickman Library in Virginia City, and others in Sheridan and Twin Bridges, are funded by local taxes, fundraising, and countywide support.

Madison County libraries serve all residents, with shared resources benefiting everyone, including those who work in Big Sky.

Notably, twice as many library cardholders at MVPL reside outside the town of Ennis, including many individuals who work in Big Sky. These residents rely on countywide library services funded through shared tax dollars.

In 2003, voters approved a levy of 0.5 mills per year to support libraries in Ennis, Sheridan, and Twin Bridges, which provided $104,443 per library in 2022–2023. The Thompson-Hickman Library also received additional funding. These funds are essential for staffing, programming, and access to both physical and digital resources.

If a new library district is established in Big Sky, the redirection of mill value from the current countywide system could significantly impact existing libraries, resulting in:

  • Staffing challenges that limit the ability to serve communities. Madison County libraries already operate with minimum staffing due to budget constraints. Further reductions would exacerbate this issue.

  • Reduced hours at MVPL, diminishing its role as a community hub. Library hours are directly tied to staffing and budget. MVPL serves as a vital community center in the Madison Valley, offering a gathering space in addition to traditional library services.

  • Fewer services including a limited selection of books, eBooks, and digital resources. Budget cuts would lead to a decreased selection of physical books, eBooks, audiobooks, streaming services, and databases—resources that residents rely on for education, entertainment, and business support.

  • Reduced programming such as early literacy initiatives and youth summer reading programs. Early literacy programs, which provide over 300 hours annually for pre-K and youth, would be at risk. Programs like MVPL’s summer reading initiative, which helps combat learning loss for elementary students, would also face significant cuts.

Preserving the current funding structure ensures that libraries can continue to provide vital services and remain central to the cultural, educational, and social fabric of Madison County.