By Clyde Noel

The funding for Santa Clara County community libraries is about to expire, leaving a huge economic shortfall in the library system. Voters overwhelmingly passed the library assessment in 1994, and Measure B is now on the ballot to maintain the parcel tax assessment in order to continue library services as they are.

County Librarian Melinda S. Cervantes and retired County Librarian Susan Fuller spoke to Los Altos Kiwanis Club members last Tuesday on the necessity to pass the tax March 2.

“The funds at issue provide approximately 21 percent of the overall library budget, and local libraries will face sharp reductions if the measure doesn’t pass,” Cervantes said. “With the state’s financial problems, we already have lost $800,000 in state funding cuts for libraries.”

If Measure B doesn’t pass, Cervantes said, library hours would be cut as much as 21 percent - libraries would be open fewer hours every day and would be closed for more days. The Los Altos main library would be closed one full day, one extra morning per week and one extra evening per week. Currently it remains open 69 hours a week; that would be reduced to 52.

Woodland Library would be closed two full days and would remain open only five hours each day. Presently the library remains open 39 hours a week; that would be reduced to 25.

Fuller said the two Los Altos libraries are among the most heavily used libraries in the system. With an annual circulation of more than 1.7 million volumes, their circulation per capita is 42.53 books per year.

If approved, Measure B would add $8.34 to the current yearly rate of $33.66 to make a total of $42 per single-family home or condominium. The proceeds raised by each community can be used only to fund the community’s library for open hours, books, materials and other library services.

Measure B establishes a community facilities district and allows for the collection of a special tax to be used exclusively by the local libraries.