What Voters Said to Their Libraries in CA, MA, and NY
EveryLibrary works every day to support local libraries when they are on the ballot for funding and building projects.
Over the last three weeks, four of our libraries have passed their operating funding measures:
- Eugene (OR) Public Library - Passed a 5-year $4.3 million operating levy
- Albany (NY) Public Library - Passed a $9.7 million library tax levy
- Rockwell Falls (NY) Public Library - Passed an annual levy increase of $250,000
- South Lake Tahoe (CA) Library - Passed Measure B to renew their operating parcel tax funding
Unfortunately, two of our libraries did not pass their building bonds and will not be breaking ground. Voters rejected the plans for new libraries in El Cerrito, CA, and for the Bigelow Free Public Library in Clinton, MA. These results reflect one of the most consistent patterns in library elections nationwide: operating tax renewals generally outperform bond issues and major construction projects.
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EveryLibrary’s Direct Supports for Libraries on the Ballot
When EveryLibrary works with library communities like these in the lead-up to their Election Days, we provide a unique kind of support to their leadership teams and local ballot committees. Our staff are experienced and seasoned campaign strategists who help jumpstart and guide both the information-only campaign and the voter outreach. All of our training, coaching, and guidance is provided pro bono and for free and is tailored to a specific place for a specific election. Because we “bundle” donations from people around the country, we are often the first donor to a local Vote Yes for the Library campaign. No other library advocacy organization in the country does this type of work.
Differences Between Operating and Building Measures
In our experience, voters often view renewing operating measures and initiating building bonds very differently. Renewals are dedicated to maintaining existing services, staffing, collections, and programs that residents already know and use. Building projects, by contrast, require voters to evaluate long-term costs, financing mechanisms, construction plans, and future community needs.
Through our training, consulting, strategic guidance, and campaign support, our team sees firsthand what helps measures succeed, what causes them to struggle, and what broader trends are emerging across the library funding landscape.
Through our training, consulting, strategic guidance, and campaign support, our team sees firsthand what helps measures succeed, what causes them to struggle, and what broader trends are emerging across the library funding landscape.
Looking at the Losses
We are mourning the losses for the Bigelow Free Public Library in Massachusetts and the El Cerrito Library in California. Both projects were exciting opportunities for their communities to invest in new library buildings that would have multi-generational impacts on the quality of life in their towns. challenges facing library funding efforts today. We worked as closely with their leadership teams as we did with the ones who passed their measures, and their losses hit us hard.
While the outcomes were not what we wished or worked for, the lessons from these campaigns are ones we know well: community support does not always translate into voter support for a specific project, financing plan, or capital campaign. As we have been reporting for several years with our partners at Library Journal, building projects face a higher burden of proof with voters than operating and budget measures.
BIGELOW FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, MA
BIGELOW FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, MA
Bigelow Free Public Library in Clinton, Massachusetts, came remarkably close to securing approval for a major building project but ultimately fell short of the supermajority threshold required for passage.
At the June 2026 town meeting, 306 residents voted in favor of the project while 269 voted against it. Although supporters won a majority of the votes cast, the measure required a two-thirds majority to pass. The proposal fell 77 votes short of the threshold needed for approval.
The project would have funded a new library building estimated at approximately $24 million. The plan also included an $11 million state grant, substantially reducing the local share of the project cost, which is now forfeited.
Library supporters mounted an impressive information campaign leading up to the vote. Following the defeat, many community members expressed frustration that participation at the town meeting was lower than expected and pointed to online misinformation as a contributing factor. Others questioned whether enough residents fully understood the proposal's financial structure and the consequences of losing state grant funding.
What makes this result particularly notable is that the project did not fail because of a lack of library support. Rather, it illustrates how difficult capital projects can be when they require supermajority approval and when voters have lingering concerns about costs, taxes, or project scope.
EL CERRITO LIBRARY | CONTRA COSTA COUNTY LIBRARY, CA
At the June 2026 town meeting, 306 residents voted in favor of the project while 269 voted against it. Although supporters won a majority of the votes cast, the measure required a two-thirds majority to pass. The proposal fell 77 votes short of the threshold needed for approval.
The project would have funded a new library building estimated at approximately $24 million. The plan also included an $11 million state grant, substantially reducing the local share of the project cost, which is now forfeited.
Library supporters mounted an impressive information campaign leading up to the vote. Following the defeat, many community members expressed frustration that participation at the town meeting was lower than expected and pointed to online misinformation as a contributing factor. Others questioned whether enough residents fully understood the proposal's financial structure and the consequences of losing state grant funding.
What makes this result particularly notable is that the project did not fail because of a lack of library support. Rather, it illustrates how difficult capital projects can be when they require supermajority approval and when voters have lingering concerns about costs, taxes, or project scope.
EL CERRITO LIBRARY | CONTRA COSTA COUNTY LIBRARY, CA
The proposed El Cerrito Library project faced a significant defeat at the polls, with voters rejecting the measure by a margin of 7,431 no votes to 3,235 yes votes.
The El Cerrito library project faced a highly organized opposition effort that operated both in person and online. Critics of the project mobilized through community networks, public meetings, social media, and digital communications to raise concerns about the project and its financing plan. While some opposition messaging focused on legitimate questions about funding and implementation, supporters also had to respond to misinformation and inaccurate claims that circulated throughout the campaign.
Interestingly, some of that misinformation had an unintended positive effect. As inaccurate information spread, additional community members stepped forward to support the measure and help ensure voters had access to factual information about the project. Residents who believed strongly in the library’s future became active advocates, working to correct misconceptions and engage their neighbors in conversations about what the measure would and would not do.
Throughout the campaign, the Vote Yes Committee took on a dual role. In addition to running the traditional voter outreach campaign, committee members effectively served as the community’s primary information resource. Volunteers organized informational meetings, answered questions from residents, hosted community engagement events, canvassed neighborhoods, and conducted extensive get-out-the-vote efforts. Their work demonstrated a deep commitment to public education, transparency, and civic engagement.
Ultimately, news coverage, public comments, and voter feedback suggest that many residents were not voting against the library itself. Rather, concerns about the project’s scope, financing strategy, and the city’s approach to implementation became central issues in the campaign.
The El Cerrito experience is a reminder that even the strongest volunteer organization, the most effective voter outreach effort, and the most dedicated supporters can face significant challenges when voters are unconvinced of the underlying project's merits. Campaigns matter, but public confidence in the proposal itself remains equally important.
EveryLibrary provided training, resources, and support for the ballot committee. Over the past year, we also provided in-person advocacy training for library board members, Friends members, library staff, and community members.
The El Cerrito library project faced a highly organized opposition effort that operated both in person and online. Critics of the project mobilized through community networks, public meetings, social media, and digital communications to raise concerns about the project and its financing plan. While some opposition messaging focused on legitimate questions about funding and implementation, supporters also had to respond to misinformation and inaccurate claims that circulated throughout the campaign.
Interestingly, some of that misinformation had an unintended positive effect. As inaccurate information spread, additional community members stepped forward to support the measure and help ensure voters had access to factual information about the project. Residents who believed strongly in the library’s future became active advocates, working to correct misconceptions and engage their neighbors in conversations about what the measure would and would not do.
Throughout the campaign, the Vote Yes Committee took on a dual role. In addition to running the traditional voter outreach campaign, committee members effectively served as the community’s primary information resource. Volunteers organized informational meetings, answered questions from residents, hosted community engagement events, canvassed neighborhoods, and conducted extensive get-out-the-vote efforts. Their work demonstrated a deep commitment to public education, transparency, and civic engagement.
Ultimately, news coverage, public comments, and voter feedback suggest that many residents were not voting against the library itself. Rather, concerns about the project’s scope, financing strategy, and the city’s approach to implementation became central issues in the campaign.
The El Cerrito experience is a reminder that even the strongest volunteer organization, the most effective voter outreach effort, and the most dedicated supporters can face significant challenges when voters are unconvinced of the underlying project's merits. Campaigns matter, but public confidence in the proposal itself remains equally important.
EveryLibrary provided training, resources, and support for the ballot committee. Over the past year, we also provided in-person advocacy training for library board members, Friends members, library staff, and community members.
We Need the Resources to Campaign
The Bigelow Free Library and El Cerrito Library project proposals generated significant public discussion, scrutiny, and debate. Much of that debate centered on project costs, financing structures, timelines, governance, and implementation. At the same time, both communities experienced organized opposition efforts and vocal critics who challenged the proposals from a variety of perspectives. While some opponents raised concerns specific to the projects themselves, others expressed broader skepticism about public spending, government decision-making, or the role of public institutions, including libraries.
Libraries and community advocates interested in launching an information campaign or exploring a ballot measure are encouraged to reach out to EveryLibrary to learn more about our training, consulting, and pro bono support opportunities. When there is opposition, it should not be overlooked and must be confronted. Because of our donors, EveryLibrary is there to help libraries and community leaders navigate ballot measures, funding campaigns, and public engagement efforts through training, advocacy, and strategic support.
Please consider donating today to support all of our pro-bono work for libraries on the ballot.
A monthly donation of just $5 helps us secure almost $100,000 in stable library funding.
Libraries and community advocates interested in launching an information campaign or exploring a ballot measure are encouraged to reach out to EveryLibrary to learn more about our training, consulting, and pro bono support opportunities. When there is opposition, it should not be overlooked and must be confronted. Because of our donors, EveryLibrary is there to help libraries and community leaders navigate ballot measures, funding campaigns, and public engagement efforts through training, advocacy, and strategic support.
Please consider donating today to support all of our pro-bono work for libraries on the ballot.