San Antonio Public Library Fights for Place in Infastructure Bond

-- Library Journal, 3/6/2007

While San Antonio voters will go to the polls on May 12 to approve or deny a $550 million bond package, it will include only $11 million for public library capital improvements, about one-third of what the San Antonio Public Library Board initially requested. While the $11 million would pay for improvements at nine branches and partially fund two new facilities, director Ramiro Salazar said that the board initially requested some $33 million for additional improvements and repairs, including about $10 million for the central library and full funding for the two new branches. The largest component of the initiative involves streets, bridges, and sidewalk improvements totaling nearly $307 million.

In drawing up the bond measure, each council member appointed two members of "the public at large" to each of four committees, Salazar said. Library projects were included in the Community Initiatives Committee, which Salazar involved "a little bit of money for a lot of needs." A former member of the library board who remains active in the Texas Library Association did stand up for public library interests. As libraries can only provide factual information about the proposition, a citizens committee will be responsible for advocacy.