1. NEEDS OF
LOCAL LIBRARIES
Santa Clara County Library District
Summer 2013

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.