California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000
	Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Proposition 14

Arguments on this page are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency.

Before we ask the taxpayers to fork out $350,000,000 (approximately $675,000,000 with interest) for new libraries, WE SHOULD INSIST THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS KEEP OUR CURRENT LIBRARIES OPEN A DECENT NUMBER OF HOURS.

The argument in favor of Proposition 14 states, "Libraries provide a safe place for students to study and complete homework assignments, and for adults to gain practical skills through a variety of adult learning programs."

The problem is, our current libraries aren't open long enough for students or working adults to use them.

A random sampling of over 100 county libraries throughout California indicates that libraries are rarely open--averaging ONLY FIVE HOURS A DAY. Few libraries are open on Saturday and Sunday. Their limited weekday hours are in the middle of the day, when children are in school and adults are at work. Therefore, taxpayers who wish to use libraries cannot do so. Yet, those same taxpayers are forced to pay the bill.

Rather than spend borrowed money on library buildings that won't be used, we need to explore different ways to deliver the same services.

With the Internet, expanded-hour private bookstores, and virtual schools, many opportunities for research and training already exist. And they don't require intensive, large scale construction of government buildings with borrowed money. These government buildings may be obsolete in 10 years, but we will be paying them off for 30 years. Is that a good use of taxpayer dollars?

For a listing of library hours and internet links, visit www.rayhaynes.org/bonds.html

RAY HAYNES
California Senator

LEWIS K. UHLER
President, The National Tax-Limitation Committee

CARL McGILL
Chairman, Black Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles County

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