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San José Voters Approve Measure S Library Parcel Tax

Thanks for your ongoing support of San José's Libraries! Keep informed on how the Library Parcel Tax is being used each year

November 30, 2004 -

Two-thirds of San José voters again demonstrated their strong support for libraries this month when they approved Measure S to authorize a parcel tax to continue their investment in outstanding public libraries that started ten years ago.

The parcel tax, set at $25 per single family dwelling with proportional amounts for other types of property, will provide a minimum of $6.2 million annually in supplemental funding for the next 10 years. Benefits of this dedicated revenue will include:

Mayor Gonzales, who campaigned strongly for the measure, expressed satisfaction at the outcome saying, “San José residents clearly recognize the value of great libraries for building a strong community. They know personally the benefits from their investments in libraries over the past 10 years, and they have again given their strong endorsement to maintain award-winning levels of library service in San José."

In recent years, City surveys assessing community satisfaction with various aspects of city services have consistently recorded high approval ratings for library services. The latest survey revealed that 91% of those polled rated library services “very good” or “excellent.”

Library Director Jane Light attributes these high marks to a customer-driven strategic planning process. “We have implemented a number of service initiatives over the last five years that have greatly enhanced the library experience,” she says. “We listen carefully to what our customers ask us to buy and we purchase the most popular items in multiples to reduce the waiting time."

Both on-site material display methods and Internet access to the online catalog have contributed significantly to a 105% increase in use over the past five years. In fact, usage has increased 194% overall during the 10-year span of the Library Assessment District. Although library usage is known to increase during periods of economic recession, the increase is so marked in San José that other library systems in the Bay Area and beyond have inquired about the methods used to achieve this level of success.

Branch innovation along with the unique city/university collaboration represented by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library were honored earlier this year when San José Public Library and San José State University were selected as co-recipients of the 2004 Gale/Library Journal “Library of the Year” award. And in September, the League of California Cities awarded further recognition with its prestigious “Helen Putnam Award” in the category of “Intergovernmental Relations & Regional Cooperation."

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