Library budgets may be suffering, but voters around the country offered supportive if mixed votes in favor of library levies last month. Despite a newspaper editorial urging a “no” vote (see News, LJ 11/1/08, p. 16), 65 percent of voters in Atlanta–Fulton County approved a $275 million bond referendum that would fund eight new libraries in the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, two expanded libraries and 23 renovated libraries, plus $85 million toward a new Central Library.

It will be the largest library building program in state history; the last library bond in Fulton County was in 1985, for $38 million. The number of libraries in the plan remains at 34; the library system will eliminate leased spaces and its oldest facilities. Residents owning a $300,000 home will pay $37.92 per year.

Despite the economic downturn and concerns that voters might assume a temporary infusion of federal aid could take care of short-term library funding issues, voters in Clackamas County, OR, by at least a 60 percent margin, approved a new library service district for the three-branch Clackamas County Library and ten city libraries. It will generate about $11.8 million for two new buildings and to increase hours. The average homeowner will pay $81.78 annually.

Clackamas County is one of four Oregon counties particularly hard hit by the loss of federal funds to rural Western counties that have federal land long used for logging. It lost $12 million. Such timber payments were partly restored owing to a federal bailout bill in October but aren't expected to last. Now, the library district will bring all libraries up to Oregon Library Association standards.

Almost 70 percent of Palo Alto, CA, voters approved a 30-year, $76 million bond for major library improvements to its main and Mitchell Park libraries. In Gilroy, CA, some 68 percent of voters approved a $37 million bond that will fund improvements for three of the city's five branches. Berkeley voters went for a $26 million bond to improve the branches by restoring and refurbishing historic features and adding space. Contra Costa Library will get $2 million for expansion.

However, Fresno County voters narrowly defeated a sales tax measure to supplement library operating costs; the current tax ends in 2013. Hemet voters turned down a user utility tax that would have restored funds for library, police, fire, and public works services. Now, these departments will lose 15 percent of their budgets.

Formation of the Berthoud Community Public Library District, CO, was approved by voters last year, but they nixed funding it. This time around, voters green-lighted a 2.4-mill levy increase. Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, CO, lost a referendum for a one-mill tax increase.

Springville, UT, constituents voted for a $9.8 million bond to build a new, larger library. New Mexicans approved four general obligation bonds, which would be paid through statewide property taxes and will generate $11 million in books for state and tribal libraries.

The majority of bond measures (11 out of 18) for Illinois public libraries failed. Among them, Des Plaines Valley Public Library District won't have $40.9 million for three new libraries or an increase in the mill rate. Other Illinois communities losing out on expansion referenda are Village of Villa Park ($24.9 million), McHenry Public Library District ($32 million), and Barrington Public Library ($34.3 million).

The Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH, will have more local support for its operating budget. Issue 127, which passed, represents an average increase of $1.76 a month per property owner. All told, 11 of 13 Ohio levies passed, including a replacement levy for the Stark County District Library.

In Troy, NY, according to the Troy Record, voters approved a proposed special tax district for the Troy Public Library but voted against its proposed $800,000 operating budget. That left library leaders to confer with state officials in determining next steps.

Walpole, MA, voters defeated the $7 million debt exclusion for a new library. Library supporters in Massachusetts contributed to a campaign to get voters to reject a referendum to eliminate the state income tax.