Levy's Operater Sweet Home's Library

At a glance:
What: Voter's vote no to pass Sweet Home Library's funding
Why: Voters confused concerning city's budget to support library funding
How: Voters pass no vote, closes library

Voters don't realize the library's funding does not come from the Sweet Home City budget with their tax paying dollars. Sweet Home Librarian, Sandi Leonard, states, "The library's funding has its own four year levy for its own funding." In Sweet Home, OR, the Sweet Home Library has its "own library level", as Leonard explains relies on four year levy to fund the library. The Sweet Home city voting ballot concerning library funding has city voters confused in how this is worded on the ballot.

In 2003, voters voted no against funding for the city library. This is caused by confusion on the city voting ballot how the ballot is read about the library's funding. This resulted in the library being closed for four months in 2003. After four months closure, Sweet Home held special election to re-elect library pass for levy approval funding. The library was re-opened. The levy will be needed to pass soon, again, at the next election.

Leonard has worked part-time at the city library for thirteen years. Leonard listened from one teenager stating, "I love coming to the library. I've come here since I was a little boy". Leonard notes the Sweet Home Library is over thirty years old . The Library had moved originally from City Hall across the street, then built over an old walnut grove.

Heather Horn, an instructor who works at LBCC, visited the library commented, " It's a valuable treasure for the community of Sweet Home. The staff are really friendly." The Library owe Horn five dollars back and she exclaimed, " This never happens to me!", as Horn states the five dollars "must be a blessing!"