Many Library Referenda Fare Well in November Elections
Despite dreary fiscal times for state governments, voters in many districts came out in favor of tax measures to support their local libraries. Preliminary results show that at least as many bond issues were approved as were rejected November 4.
The victories included:
- Laramie County, Wyoming, residents approved $26.9 million to build a new county library, improve one branch, and replace a bookmobile. “We are beyond thrilled,” County Librarian Lucie Osborn said.
- Voters ratified the Toledo–Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library’s proposal for a 1-mill, four-year operating levy that will provide more books, better computer facilities, and the resumption of Sunday hours.
- Citizens of Carthage, Missouri, approved by more than two-to-one a sales tax increase to help a $4.5-million addition to the existing 100-year-old Carnegie library. The increase will not go into effect until supporters come up with $2 million to fund half of the project.
Among the failures were:
- Library supporters failed to convince other residents of Mesa County, Colorado, to pass two referenda that would have purchased bonds to build a new county library and improve security and circulation systems for the existing building.
- More than 57% of Rockdale County, Georgia, residents voted no to extending a 1% 1999 special-purpose, local-option tax that would have provided $5.9 million to expand and enhance the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library in Conyers.
A full report on library referenda results is scheduled to appear in the January 2004 issue of American Libraries as well as on the AL Online website in mid-November.
Posted November 10, 2003.
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