Coming soon to your mailbox: Library tax ballots

Library supporters and community leaders in Gilroy and Morgan Hill are throwing their weight behind the “YES on A” campaign, which kicked off Monday night at the Campbell Library as part of an effort to renew the special library tax that is set to expire in 2015.
The tax, which has been in place for 20 years, provides local school children and community college students in the Santa Clara County with access to first-class library services and materials.
“In Gilroy it’s particularly important because you’ve built this beautiful new library which your citizens are paying for, but that money doesn’t go for operations,” explained Nancy Howe, Santa Clara County librarian. “This tax is different in that it supports how the library serves the community.”
The Morgan Hill Kick-Off Campaign Party for Measure A begins at 6 p.m. tonight at the Morgan Hill Library, located at 660 W. Main Ave.
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters starting July 29 and must be returned by August 27. The outcome of the vote will determine the continuance or cancellation of a $33 annual parcel tax for county residents that brings in $5.6 million annually for county libraries.
The county’s Joint Powers Authority is hoping Gilroy and Morgan Hill residents will vote to continue the annual tax, which makes up about 18 percent of the library system’s total budget. The special tax needs a two-thirds vote to pass. If it passes, the rate will remain at $33.
“This budget is important because it takes care of the basics for the libraries,” said Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate.
If the ballot were to fail, library hours within the county would be reduced by a day or a day-and-a-half, according to Deputy County Librarian Derek Wolfgram.
Tate said the tax was originally implemented because libraries weren’t able to self-sufficiently pay for new books and other materials, or even the basic costs of staying in operation.
“Libraries weren’t able to fund the number of hours they were expected to be open,” Tate said. “But if the measure doesn’t pass, Gilroy and Morgan Hill libraries would have to close down for one additional day per week.”
Tate said there is a growing reliance on community libraries as funding for public schools libraries continues to diminish.
If Measure A passes, Tate said his next move is getting the Morgan Hill library to be open for at least one additional day (Sunday or Monday) per week.
In preliminary phone polling of Santa Clara County residents, feedback showed 76 percent of those polled would vote in favor of passing Measure A.
“Nobody has submitted any kind of formal opposition so far and the poll came back mostly positive,” Tate said.
The measure would provide funds to continue to help local libraries to buy books and research materials, maintain library hours and services, keep qualified librarians, continue summer student reading programs, and, among other services, provide an award-winning bookmobile program to bring books to seniors, the disabled and others.
“We know how important local libraries are to each of our communities,” said President Ken Yeager, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors. “Without these funds, our libraries would not be able to buy needed books and up-to-date research materials and would have to cut programs for children and seniors.”