NEEDS OF LOCAL LIBRARIES

Santa Clara County Library District

Summer 2013

What is Measure A?

Taxpayer funding for local libraries has been in place for the past twenty years, but is due to expire.

Continuing funding at existing rates will help to continue to maintain and protect:

Local library services and programs Book collections Open hours This will not increase existing taxes.

How Does Measure A Impact Library Services?

Measure A would continue to help local libraries to: Buy needed books and up-to-date research materials Maintain library hours and services Keep qualified librarians Continue summer student reading programs Provide an award-winning bookmobile program to bring

books to seniors, the disabled, and others

What Libraries Are We Talking About? Seven Community Libraries

Campbell Cupertino Gilroy Los Altos Milpitas Morgan Hill Saratoga

One Branch Library Woodland

Two Bookmobiles

Online Library

What is at Stake?

Without Measure A, local libraries will be forced to implement significant cuts to programs and services, including:

Reducing or eliminating library programs for children, teens, and seniors

Purchasing fewer books and databases, reducing our ability to maintain up-to-date collections

Closing libraries for an additional day to day-and-a-half each week

How Does Measure A Impact School Children? There are more than 100,000 school age and preschool children

who attend library programs each year

Individual school libraries often only open a few days per week Public libraries are now even more important than ever for our

children’s education.

Taxpayer funding helps provide children with: Up-to-date research materials to complete school or college

assignments Summer reading programs Homework help and SAT test preparation Science programs for elementary school kids Toddler and preschool storytimes Teen book clubs and activities for youth

Without taxpayer funding, programs for school children, teens, and community college students will need to be reduced and some will be eliminated

Every Local Library Benefits

EVERY library throughout the Santa Clara County Library District benefits from Measure A.

Every Measure A dollar raised within a city is returned for the benefit and operation of the local library for that city for services such as:

Purchasing new books and up-to-date research materials Providing school children with access to the materials they need Keeping our libraries clean and safe Maintaining our bookmobile program that brings books to seniors, pre-

schools, disabled children and rural/isolated areas of the county Keeping summer reading programs for school children Maintaining library open hours Keeping the adult literacy program that has helped many learn to read

What does it Cost?

Measure A continues existing funding for our libraries at current rates.

The current rate for a single family home is $33.66/year and is not being increased.

This funding has been in place for 20 years, and Measure A would extend it for another 20 years.

Rates for other property types can be found at www.sccl.org in the full rate and method chart.

Fiscal Accountability

The library district budget includes strong fiscal accountability provisions to guarantee that all funds are being spent as promised, including:

Annual, independent financial audits Public review of expenditures to monitor spending

Every Measure A dollar raised within a city is returned for the benefit and operation of the local library for that city.

Measure A will require the same stringent fiscal protections already in place.

When will a Vote be Held?

There will be a mail ballot on Measure A in August 2013 to maintain and protect library services by continuing community funding at existing rates, with no increase in taxes.

Ballots will be mailed to registered voters in late July and must be returned by August 27.

Measure A is the only issue on the ballot.

For More Information

Do you know of other community groups that need this information? Let us know!

Visit www.sccl.org

Contact County Librarian Nancy Howe at: Phone: 408-293-2326 Email: nhowe@sccl.org.