PASADENA WATCH : Civic Spirit Wins One

In retrospect, no one should be surprised that the people of Pasadena gave thumbs up to their libraries.

Most of us regard libraries as friendly, welcoming places. And unlike some other public servants--the tax collector or the building inspector, to name two--the people who work in libraries ask so little of us.

Instead, librarians stand ready to help, happy to answer questions, to recommend a good book, to open a young mind to new worlds. The worst thing that comes out of a library is an overdue notice.

But it was far from a sure thing that Pasadena’s special library tax would pass--it needed two-thirds approval. But pass it did last Tuesday, and by an overwhelming 79.7%.

The measure will raise $1.3 million, enough to restore service at the city’s struggling libraries to 1989 levels and, most important, prevent the closing of all eight branches.

The levy will draw an extra $20 a year from each house, $13 from each apartment and $147 from each commercial parcel. Opponents had questioned the wisdom of imposing new taxes in these very tight times.

The vote is clearly a victory for Pasadena’s libraries. But it is also a much-needed triumph, however small, of civic spirit over self-interest.

Perhaps there are lessons here for other cities, counties or states anxious to stanch the erosion of necessary public services, or lessons about how to run a successful election campaign or how to structure a new tax. Or perhaps this is just a heartwarming story of one city and its libraries.