Measure S, which is on the Nov. 2 ballot, would continue a $25-per-parcel annual tax that voters passed in 1994 for another 10 years. The tax is due to sunset this year unless it passes by a two-thirds vote.

Since the initial parcel-tax passage 10 years ago, the Willow Glen Library has purchased 69,700 new items with these funds. Almost a quarter of the library's materials budget—71 percent—came from parcel-tax funds in fiscal year 2002­03. That year alone, the library purchased 10,300 new items, compared to 4,500 in 1994­95, before the parcel tax went into effect.

"There are special stickers on the books in our collection that were purchased with parcel-tax funds," said Willow Glen branch manager Ruth Kohan. "It's primarily impacted the size and quality of our collection and our ability to respond to customer demand. We're now able to purchase multiple copies of hot items. We're much better able to meet our customers' needs through parcel-tax funds. We're talking about a shrinking collection without these funds."

Willow Glen Library patrons have responded favorably to the improved collection, borrowing a record 355,594 items in 2002­03, an 87 percent increase in checkouts over 1994­95.

The library is slated for expansion within the next few years, and Kohan said parcel-tax monies will be especially critical in stocking the extra shelves.

"We'll need materials because we'll be a much larger branch," she added. "Not having Measure S funds would make purchasing new materials difficult."

Proponents of Measure S say that if the parcel tax isn't renewed, library patrons systemwide will have far fewer new items to choose from. Deborah Herron, manager of the "Yes on Measure S" campaign, said San Jose's library system will lose $6.2 million a year in operating funds and face the possibility of serious reductions in service at each of its 17 branches. These reductions would include decreasing the number of new items purchased each year by about two-thirds, eliminating 40 staff positions and closing branch libraries, which now operate six days a week, down by one to two additional days each week. Reading programs, homework assistance, after-school programs and other children's services would be deeply cut or eliminated.

According to Jane Light, director of San Jose's library department, the 40 positions that stand to be cut, if the parcel tax isn't renewed, represent an eighth of the library system's staff.

"Since the city's had to cut its general services budget, we've been holding onto six-day service by our fingertips," she added. "If we lost another 40 employees, we couldn't afford to do that."

Opponents of Measure S, including members of the Libertarian Party, question why fines for overdue books—which amounted to almost $1 million in each of the last three years—go into the city's General Fund and not directly back into the library system.

Light pointed out that the library system receives about $22 million annually through the city's General Fund.

It's our biggest single source of revenue," Light added. "I'd rather have $22 million than $1 million."

Light has spoken in favor of Measure S at several community meetings and said the public response has generally been favorable.

"When people realize it's a continuation of something they've been paying for the last 10 years, they say 'OK,'" she added. "In this community, people have been saying for over a decade that they want more and better library services. The kind of libraries they want are going to take a commitment from the voters to fund."