Here’s a post-election day scenario that is playing out in a number of cities and towns across the US; library budgets reduced or no money set aside for improvements.
From The Day (CT): “Faced with a disappointing loss at the polls last week, the Board of Trustees of the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library said they will work with town officials to develop a revised proposal for the library expansion that will meet the needs of the town. The trustees had asked town taxpayers to approve a $13 million bond issue, allowing the library to renovate and expand its landmark building at the corner of Wall Street and the Boston Post Road.
In a letter to the editor in this issue of The Source, Board of Trustees Chair Ted Mallory said, “Most of those who were opposed were concerned with taking on a major expense in the tumultuous financial times that burst upon us this fall…The referendum was defeated. The economic fears were too great and we failed to communicate or convince enough people of our reasoning.”
The measure lost by about 500 votes in Madison, CT, a relatively wealthy community.
Were there library voter issues in your community? What were the results?
Library bond measures won
Library bond measures won in:
Both cities are in Santa
Both cities are in Santa Clara County, CA.