The week before the library staff was set to close up shop at its temporary location on Bandley to move into its new digs at its old location on Torre, the Joint Powers Authority that oversees the county library system (of which Cupertino library is a branch) voted to close its libraries on Mondays effective Oct. 11.

"The timing of the Monday closure is particularly unfortunate," said library supervisor Mary-Ann Wallace, as patrons checked out piles of books, videocassettes and CDs the day before the temporary library was set to shut its doors.

Library staff members will now have four days a week instead of five to get the new library up and running. They'll have to shelve not only the collection that was available at the old library but the materials that were in storage in that building's basement.

Wallace said it was necessary to close all seven libraries in the county system on the same day to realize enough savings to diminish a $1.1 million budget shortfall in the current fiscal year. County residents currently pay a $33 annual assessment per single-family home to support the library system, but this assessment is due to sunset in June 2005. If this assessment isn't renewed, the group of cities estimate a loss of $5.3 million in the next fiscal year.

The JPA is considering asking voters to renew the assessment next June in what would be a special election. The last such ballot measure barely missed the two-thirds vote required to pass.

To increase public understanding of the issue, the JPA is trying to raise $200,000­$400,000 before the end of the year to fund a campaign around the ballot measure.

"Last time we ran this campaign, we were really short of funding," said Cupertino City Council member Richard Lowenthal, who is also chairman of the JPA. "That was a big factor in [the measure] not passing."

Business organizations such as the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group have expressed interest in donating to the library campaign.

"Business is generally against taxes, but I think they see that libraries are good for the community and for housing values," Lowenthal said.

This kind of support is all the more important since potential donors have already been asked for money to purchase furniture for the new library building.

"We're kind of tapping out the same people who would donate to this campaign," Lowenthal said.

He said the Monday closure may actually help raise awareness of the library system's financial woes.

"I think people have expected services to continue whether these measures pass or not," he added. "We can't [offer the same level of service] anymore, and I think people will feel the pinch [when libraries close on Mondays]. I think this will at least help people draw the connection between voting on the measure and getting something for their money."

While patrons were in a hurry to check out items before the temporary library shut down, they were less concerned about the impending Monday closure. Several patrons expressed a "wait and see" attitude.

It's this kind of attitude that the JPA's campaign would address, Lowenthal said.

"If people understand the truth of the situation, we'll get the support we need," he added.