"I'm at the library three or four days a week. This is something that the community needs," she said.

Susan Phillips, a student at West Valley College, agrees. "I would like to see the ballot measures pass so that the library reopens on Mondays," said Phillips, who likes the quiet study room at the library.

Kukde and other registered voters in the county now have a chance to vote on the measures. Most registered voters in Saratoga received ballots in their mail last week.

The success or failure of the mail-in ballot measure will determine if the Saratoga Library and seven other libraries in the Santa Clara County Library system will announce further cuts or go back to their old hours of operation.

The successful passage of Measure A would reinstate a parcel tax that expires on June 30. The reinstatement would be valid for 10 years and would cost property owners $33.66 per parcel per year. It would ensure that all libraries in the system are able to maintain their current hours of operation.

Measure B asks county residents for an additional $12 per year.

Its success would allow the libraries to go back to their old schedule of operations and restore the hours that have been cut. Measure B can pass only if voters approve Measure A, and both require a two-thirds vote.

A similar ballot measure failed to get the two-thirds majority in 2004.

"I'm usually against taxes but this is something that the community needs," said Mike Kim, a frequent visitor to the library.

There are some Saratoga residents, though, who do not like the idea of using property tax to fund the library.

"All the registered voters will vote on the measure but the property owners will pay the tax," said Charles Shaw. "I'm all for libraries, but this is getting out of hand."

Shaw said that he has noticed a lot of students in the library on weekdays. "It's almost being used as a babysitting place," he said. "That is a questionable use of the library."

Due to extensive budget cuts, the Saratoga Library has been closed on Mondays since October 2004. Every other library in the Santa Clara County Library system also had to announce a reduction in operating hours last year.

If the measures are successful, they would also generate funds to buy additional materials for the library.

Marcia Manzo, president of the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries, has been campaigning hard to ensure the success of the ballot measures. "The campaign has worked out fabulously. We have nearly 150 volunteers who have given us their time and energy," Manzo said.

She said that most of the campaigning has been done on the phone. "I think it's a more productive way of campaigning. We're trying to identify all the yes votes; a two-thirds majority is difficult to achieve," Manzo said.

She said that she was confident of an overwhelming positive response from the community.

"If the phone calls are an indicator, we are going to do fine. But I will be comfortable only after May 3," she said.

The Friends of the Saratoga Libraries has donated $30,000 to finance campaign costs.

Librarian Dolly Barnes said that the extensive campaigning has helped spread awareness about the ballot measures.

"It seems positive. Everyone is more knowledgeable than last year," Barnes said.

Manzo said that the defeat of the ballot measure would be detrimental to the city. "The library is an asset to our community. It also helps boost our property values," Manzo said.

The ballots have to be mailed back to the County Registrar of Voters office by May 3.