Bad omen for libraries?

A recent study by the Washington State Library shows that people are relying even more on their public libraries during the current economic recession. The unemployed are using library computers to apply for jobs, file for unemployment, and use other resources. So, it’s disappointing news for library supporters throughout much of Southwest Washington that the Timberland Library District’s proposed levy lid is going down to defeat. Here is The Olympian’s report... Nearly 47,000 voters (55.73 percent) in the five counties (Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston) that make up Timberland rejected the proposal, while 37,256 voters (44.27) approved it. It needed a simple majority (50 percent plus one) in order to pass. The levy measure passed in Mason and Pacific counties, but lost in Grays Harbor, Lewis and Thurston counties. Here is county-by-county breakdown of the vote: Grays Harbor: 4,092 (43.99) approved; 5,210 (56.01) rejected. Lewis: 4,105 (28.64) approved; 10,228 (71.36) rejected. Mason: 6,953 (54.57) approved; 5,789 (45.43) rejected. Pacific: 2,699 (51.64) approved; 2,528 (48.36) rejected. Thurston: 19,407 (45.61) approved; 23,144 (54.39) rejected. Backers believe the struggling economy is why the Timberland measure went down to defeat. At a time when many families are coping with a job loss or needing to save money in case of a potential layoff, it’s understandable that some voters wouldn’t want to impose a property tax increase on themselves, they concede, even if these very citizens need these libraries more than ever.