The Associated Press

HAMILTON, Ind. - Public school students in this northeastern Indiana town and many others in DeKalb and Steuben counties do not have free access to a local library where they can check out books.

Unlike Ohio and Michigan, Indiana does not require library access for all of its residents. As a result, less than half of the residents of DeKalb County and only a third of those in neighboring Steuben County can borrow books for free.

Indiana public libraries are financed by property taxes, so the decision to join a library district is made locally by township trustees and their advisory boards, said Martha Roblee of the Indiana State Library, a public library that serves state government and Indiana residents.

A library tax can add up quickly for those who own large tracts of land, so farmers sometimes oppose joining library districts, Roblee said. Seven percent of Indiana residents, mostly in rural areas, do not live within a library taxing district.

They include all Hamilton school students and many students who attend the Metropolitan School District of Steuben County or the DeKalb County Central United Schools. Less than half of DeKalb County residents and only two-thirds of residents in Steuben County pay a property tax that finances public libraries and therefore have access to check out books.

"To me it's criminal that there are children who can't check books out of a library," said Judy Sorg, executive director of Terra Firm, a literacy initiative in DeKalb County.

Having access to books can also make a difference in breaking the cycle of poverty. Nationwide, 61 percent of low-income families have no children's books at home, Sorg said.

All three DeKalb public school districts work with Terra Firma to provide reading books for children, said Superintendent Ken Fowble of the DeKalb Central schools.

In DeKalb County's Richland Township, Trustee Ed Shippy has used township funds to buy library cards for the past four years for residents. The township used to contract access to the Garrett Public Library at a cost of $3,000 a year. The township now uses that money to buy 60 or 70 library cards a year, and any resident can ask for one, he said.