Library Election Night 2024 Results and Analysis
Election Day 2024 was mixed for libraries on the ballot across the country. EveryLibrary identified and tracked 73 individual libraries on the ballot and actively supported seven campaigns with pro-bono consulting and direct donations.
As of Wednesday morning, November 6, we have clear results in 67 communities and can share that 54 passed their ballot measures, 13 lost their ballot measure, and one defunding measure (in Arkansas) also failed. This is a 76% “win rate”, which is down from the 10-year running average of 90% wins. Many of last night’s wins were levy renewals in Ohio and annual budget votes in New York. Propositions, levies, and referenda for new funding did not pass as frequently as renewals.
View all the 2024 library election results at https://www.everylibrary.org/library_watch_party_2024
Significant building project wins include a $22 million bond for the Roselle (IL) Public Library District, $153 million for improvements and expansions across the Toledo-Lucas County Library District, a long-awaited $195 million for earthquake retrofits at the Pasadena Central Library, and $110 million to tear down and rebuild the Rose Memorial Library in Stony Point, NY. New funding will come for operations at the Cabell County (WV) Public Library, the Granville Public Library in Licking County, OH., the Olive Free Public Library in New York, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Library, and Franklin (MI) Public Library, among others. In Arkansas, voters rejected a defunding measure targeting the Lawrence County Library by a significant margin. Unfortunately, voters in Jonesboro declined to restore their library levy to pre-defunding levels. New Mexico passed a GoBond for Libraries at nearly double the funding amount from 2022.
Our seven campaigns faced significant obstacles in going to the voters, and their results were likewise mixed. We are celebrating wins in Marysville, OH where the library overcame fierce opposition from would-be censors to win its must-pass levy replacement. In Missouri, the Marshall Public Library will receive the proceeds of a new ¼ cent sales tax despite opposition from anti-tax and anti-access groups. The Millbrook (NY) Library is nearly doubling its annual budget in order to upgrade and expand the library. West Bloomfield, MI., has successfully replaced and increased the levy to fund new collections, programs, and staffing.
Unfortunately, the Rochester (IL) Public Library District failed its third attempt to fund building expansions and operating costs. The Illinois wing of the Koch Brothers’ Americans for Prosperity anti-tax organization fielded robo calls, direct mail, and online ads against the library in the last two weeks of the campaign which tipped opinions against the library. This is the first time since before the pandemic that we have seen the AFP come out against a library so directly. At the time of writing our campaigns in Washoe County, NV, and Livingston Park County, MT are still too early to call.
For the year, we identified 153 library elections in total. This is a significantly smaller number of libraries going to the voters than in any presidential election year in recent memory. It continues a year-to-year decline that began in 2017 and was amplified by the pandemic. The count of libraries on the ballot matters. In some states, going to the ballot is the only way for public libraries to increase their operating funds or to issue debt for new building projects. If library leaders look at the political or social circumstances and decide against attempting a ballot measure, they will not be able to fund their libraries properly. Over time, collections and programs stagnate without new funding, staff are not replaced, and buildings begin to fall into disrepair.
Fighting for the Future of Libraries Together
Counting yesterday’s elections, EveryLibrary has now been the pro-bono partner and guide to 142 libraries on their local funding elections. We are the only library organization working on ballot measures, referenda, levies, and political funding like this. As the national political action committee for libraries, we have the experience, tools, and skills to assist each of our campaigns individually. Since 2012, our donors have made sure that we are here to help each of our libraries succeed. Our mission is clear: we must build voter support libraries. We need your help to continue this fight.