Foes Seek to Abolish Library System

Anti-tax activists seeking to dissolve the Stevens County (WA) Rural Library District have gathered enough petition signatures to put the dissolution measure to a vote in the November 5 general election.

County auditor Tim Gray says his staff has certified 2,263 petition signatures to close the modest seven-library system, reported the Spokane Spokesman-Review . Gray added that it's unclear who will assume the next step in getting the measure onto the ballot. Voters aren't ordinarily entitled to file ballot measures.

The effort may be the first in the country to abolish a library system by popular vote, says the American Library Association. Library opponents say they don't want to pay property taxes to support the library district, which serves a remote area in northeast Washington. Supporters argue that the district will circulate nearly 300,000 books this year, more than double the amount in 2001. Last year, more than 1,000 students participated in the summer reading program.

Library director Regan Robinson says she has fought anti-library activists "for four years." The issue has prompted national media attention, which has spurred donations to the library and letters of support.