Union passes library levy

UNION — Voters approved the passage of a bond issue this week that authorizes the city to levy a property tax exclusively to fund library operations.

According to the county clerk’s office, the vote was 407 to 218, even though most had predicted the vote would be close.

Librarian Louise Shelden Thursday praised Union voters for their support.

Shelden said, “I am so pleased that people stepped up and said how valuable our library is.”

She said the levy ends the uncertainty of exactly how the library would be funded over the next five years.

It comes at a time when the library has been documenting increased public usage of the facilities and programs. It also comes in the year the library is celebrating the centennial of its historic Andrew Carnegie library.

The levy will amount to about 45 cents on each $1,000 of property value for the next five years.

Shelden had high praise for the extensive effort of the Friends of Union Library, who waged a campaign to get the word out on the library’s surge in patronage and the success of its reading programs for young people.

The surprising support for the library also comes at a time when the city has lost some businesses and is looking at cutbacks in its school
budget.