As a resident homeowner in District 1, I am writing to encourage the Board to retain library funding in Washoe County. I am a mother of two, and we regularly visit many branches of the library as a family. Recently, my children and I attended the local author event at the Downtown library where we had a chance to talk with an author who is a former teacher. This author offered to connect with my daughter's school to talk about her book. This is just one example of the community building that takes place at our libraries. We are also frequent visitors of the Northwest Reno branch where we check out the art exhibits and educational installations. There was a moving display last year on the holocaust, and we checked out several books to learn more. We have met after school tutors, and I enjoy seeing groups of seniors gathering to work puzzles together.

I think there was some misunderstanding from Washoe County voters on the recent ballot measure. I have had conversations with friends and neighbors who did not understand that this was an existing tax. They thought they were voting for new taxes and had no idea that services at their libraries may suffer.

Please continue to fund our libraries. They are a place for everyone, and we need more spaces like this. They strengthen our communities and aid in education and equal access to resources.

As a Reno resident, father of 2, and all of us frequenters of the Downtown Library, I urge the commission to retain Library funding at current levels. Many have projected that WC-1's narrow margin of defeat can be attributed to misinformation, where the question's wording and incorrect paraphrasing by right-wing groups made economy-weary residents resist what sounded like a new tax. We all know how the personal economies of hard working families have influenced voter decisions this November. It is certainly reasonable to suggest then that WC-1's result does not in fact represent the majority, that if those who voted in opposition knew of the real impact this would have, they would have voted differently.

More to the point: reading and writing saved my own life. The stories and histories contained within books gave me something to aspire toward--storytelling and authorship--and I could have not have developed a passion for reading and writing without libraries. As a young student, the accessiblity of newer books as well as the classics stoked my drive to learn and grow. That could not have happened without free access to books. Indeed, the library represents a haven for stories and information, without which, our society would progress in the wrong direction. Through access to stories, we learn about each other and find a deeper sense of humanity. We might not agree on the same topics, but in order to understand each other, we need to inform ourselves. Such essential learning and the potential for purposeful debate would be sorely damaged by defunding our libraries.

I make regular trips to the library with my two kids, and their excitement often has to be limited to what we can carry: about 10 books per trip. I can't describe the joy this brings me, watching the same process that saved my life guide theirs. Nowadays, we are fortunate to have much more diverse authors and stories being published, and the library promotes this crucial learning for my kids. Their library experience and learning journey would be the worse with dimished funding--less books/voices, less representation, less learning. Please defend our right to freedom of information and belonging through keeping our libraries funded.

I’m a District 5 resident and would like to urge the Commission to preserve the funding for the library system. I believe the ballot question was unclear and that’s the only reason the measure was not passed.

Libraries provide education and entertainment for everyone, for free, forever. The value of that to our community is far more than two cents out of every hundred dollars.

I am a homeowning resident of district 2, and I am writing to encourage the board of county commissioners to continue funding the WCLS at the current rate which has been in place for the past 30 years. Misleading wording on the ballot measure WC-1 and misinformation about it increasing taxes led to its failure. As the funding of the libraries is now to be determined by the board of county commissioners, I am asking you to maintain library funding so they can continue to provide much-needed resources to our Washoe County community.

I’d like to chime in with support for the folks who are concerned about library funding. I think that it would be unfortunate if the confusing language of WC-1 and misinformation surrounding the question resulted in our libraries losing their funding. Libraries are an important community space that ought to be maintained, and we all know that maintenance requires funding. I urge the commissioners to address these concerns and develop a plan for keeping our libraries open with a secure funding source. Thank you!

I am a resident of District 3, and am deeply saddened that WC-1 did not pass and give our libraries the vital funding that they need. As a life long Nevadan and reader, the library has been an invaluable resource for myself throughout my entire life, and has been in my children's lives since they were born. More than just a place to check out books, the library is a safe place for people to access the internet, be with community, and connect to resources that they need and cannot access anywhere else. If the lack of funding causes locations to close, or close on weekends, that will be a huge detriment to this community. Every day people in this community use the library to find a book, to get help with homework, to apply for public assistance, or to simply have a warm and safe space to rest in. I feel that WC-1's failure to pass was partly because of the language used, and partly because of negative and incorrect rhetoric about libraries that has sadly spread like wildfire. I implore the board to make up the funding that the library system desperately needs, so they can continue to serve our community and provide the best possible educational and social opportunities for everyone.

Esteemed County Commissioners,

I wish to join the other public commenters who are here in person and online today to show their support for continued funding of our Washoe County Libraries.

I’m a resident of Commission District 3, and this April, I will have worked for WCLS for twenty years. In that time, I’ve worked at all but three branches in our library system. I love my job, I love serving my community through our libraries, and I can’t imagine doing anything else for a living. I implore you to not let a vocal (but very, very small) minority sway you to the idea of cutting funding for the vital public services libraries strive to provide. I can tell you from my considerable experience that they are both necessary for our growing community, and embody the intellectual freedom at the heart of the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.

A lot of eyes will be watching the decisions you are tasked with making in the next few months. I don’t envy what you will have to choose to fund, and what to cut. But continuing to fund our libraries at their current level is an easy choice. Thank you for your time.

As a longtime homeowner in district 2, I am writing to urge County Commissioners (and specifically Commissioner Clark, who represents my district) to continue allocating funds to the Washoe County Library System at or above the current rate of 2 cents per $100 of assessed property value. I firmly believe that WC-1 failed due to unclear wording in the ballot measure, in addition to a campaign of misinformation disseminated by the Washoe Republican's voter guide which stated: "A “no” vote opposes the creation of a dedicated funding stream to the county libraries from your property taxes, which will cause your property taxes to be increased." Since this was neither the creation of dedicated funding, nor an increase in taxes, many voters were purposefully misled in their vote. Had there been clear and consistent messaging that this would retain an allocation of taxes, I do not think the ballot measure would have failed.

Furthermore, decreased funding which would lead to layoffs, library closures, decreased hours, decreased programming, and decreased budget for new books would directly impact me and my family. My family and I utilize the South Valleys Library on a weekly basis. We attend regular programs like chess club, STEM Thursdays, and Crafternoon as well as special programming like Spellbinders, 4-H events, Pokemon Go, and musical/theater performances that have expanded my kids' interests and horizons tremendously. Summer programming was a lifeline for me as a mother of young kids, and the libraries resources continue to be a source of joy for my family. We regularly check out puzzles, countless books, even state park passes, the combined cost of which would be prohibitive for my family if not available through the library. I am also a published author who spends a lot of my writing time in the library for both its resources and an environment that allows me to focus without renting out co-working space.

As the Board of County Commissioners is now in charge of that previously allocated funding, I hope you will choose to continue supporting the vital work of the libraries in Washoe County by listening to your constituents and maintaining library funding.

I strongly urge the County Commissioners to continue to support Washoe County libraries. I live in District 1 and have grown up in the Reno libraries. The downtown library is renowned for its architecture and unique landscaping and provides tools for increasing literacy and training our communities workforce
through their many services. Personally, I use the spaces to work and frequently (>2x/month) use their e-book loan systems. Without dedicated funding these services are likely to be vastly reduced and negatively impact our community. I believe that the failure of WC-1 was due to poor wording, where voters were made to believe that the passing would increase taxes. As clear by many of these comments, our community wants to continue to dedicate funding to our libraries, as they are key staples in our community. Thank you.

My name is Jaisha Webb, and I am a proud resident of District 2. Since moving to Washoe County in 2015 to attend UNR, I have come to cherish this community and now consider it home. Working with a local non-profit, I’ve gained a firsthand understanding of the many challenges faced by a significant portion of our community and the vital role that local libraries play in providing essential resources and support.

Our libraries serve as more than just book repositories; they are lifelines. They offer warmth and shelter to some of our unhoused neighbors, and for countless others, they are gateways to opportunity and connection. Libraries serve as hubs for community support, offering resources like assistance with Medicaid enrollment, help navigating other health insurance programs, and workshops on financial literacy. They provide free educational programming, resume building, and job application assistance for job seekers. Libraries also support early childhood education through storytime programs, host community events that bring people together, and offer access to books and digital tools that foster lifelong learning for all ages.

After working closely with youth in our community, I have come to understand that having access to a phone, Wi-Fi, computers, transportation, and even a supportive community is a privilege—not a guarantee. Our libraries help bridge this gap, ensuring access to these vital resources for those who need them most.

Without sufficient funding, the ability of our libraries to serve as these essential hubs is at risk. It is imperative not only to sustain their funding but to expand it, ensuring that these vital services continue to support our most vulnerable populations. Our libraries are the heart of our community, and investing in them is investing in the well-being of all who call Washoe County home..

I'm a District 1 resident and urge County Commissioners to restore funding from WC-1 to the libraries. Libraries are a vital resource across the lifespan. Story programs encourage and foster a love of reading from an early age. A love of reading translates to a love of learning. Nevada consistently ranks near the bottom for education and literacy scores. Reading and learning skills are a basic requirement for further education and to secure employment as these children age. If Nevada fails its residents as children, it fails them as adults who do not have the life skills to acquire the educational and career potential that leads to a better life. If Nevada has an unprepared and uneducated workforce, we do not have a brighter tomorrow. The work for that brighter tomorrow starts today in supporting early childhood literacy through libraries.

As children age, the modern era requiring in home internet for public school homework disproportionately affects the lower income class. To set these children up for success, we need libraries as a resource for internet and learning. As these same children grow into young adults, libraries are an invaluable resource to learn about educational and job opportunities and apply online. For children and adults alike, libraries are an engagement center to foster a sense of belonging. We all know this is critical for mental health having come out of the pandemic isolation. The movie programs the libraries put on lets us interact with our community.

Continuing through the lifespan into senior age, the computer literacy help librarians give to our non-techy senior population is absolutely indispensable. Seniors rely on our libraries to understand a world in which most of what we do is online and our librarians help them to do so safely and securely. Libraries help our community from toddler to senior, a library's work is never done.

Not least among reasons to restore funding is our public servant: the librarian. Librarians have devoted their lives and careers to creating a sphere of learning. The librarian is asked to wear many hats and be a jack-of-all-trades. They are there for us as a resource and we need to be there for them to prevent the cutting of 30 staff positions.

Hello Commissioners. I am a resident of District 1. I am a public educator. I also visit our Washoe County Public Libraries, hold free workshops and partner with County Staff on educational programs. Our public libraries are vitally important to our community. I urge you to please retain funding to support our libraries. Public libraries are a means to provide books and educational material to all residents of the community, regardless of demographic or political persuasion. Libraries enrich our community in countless ways. Libraries are a cornerstone to healthy communities.

WC-1 failed to pass due to misleading and false information. WC-1 does not raise taxes, but rather continues to fund our libraries as its current rate. Information came to my home stating WC-1 was going to raise taxes. This was not true and was a lie to voters. Please continue to fund our libraries and do not construe misinformation to decide the fate of our public libraries. Information and knowledge is power. Please use your role responsibly and continue to fund our public libraries for the benefit of all our residents Thank you for saving our public libraries.

I believe the wording on the ballot and in the voter guide was unclear, leaving many unaware that WC-1 was a continuation of a tax, not a new one.

With literacy rates among K-12 students in Washoe County at approximately 42.3%—according to the Nevada Department of Education’s 2023-2024 report card—our community should be prioritizing increased funding and support for libraries. Libraries play a critical role in improving literacy and providing access to resources to residents of all income levels. It is disheartening to see how poorly written ballot language and misinformation undermined public trust and jeopardized essential funding.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

My name is Cate Salim, and I live in District 3. I am a Washoe County naitive, and have used our public libraries my entire life. I am asking the Commissioners to please continue funding the Library System. After a coordinated attack filled with lies, the initiative WC-1 lost by 7,408 votes.

Our libraries are an important part of our community. I have heard presentations from branch managers discuss how they have been striving to fill in the education gaps for our youth due to covid school closures. Many of these parents work during the week, so with a reduction of hours and days, it may be impossible for parents to be able to have their kids participate in these events. I have a senior friend from church who doesn't have a computer or smart phone who needed to access a google map for an upcoming trip. He was able to walk to our local branch (Sparks Library) and get assistance on a Sunday after church. When I was a Scout Mom, I regularly took my Scouts to the Spanish Springs library in the evenings for programs. There are countless other stories out there.

Please support our library and preserve the funding.

As a resident of District 1, I'm writing to urge the Commission to continue funding for the library system at current levels. I was a librarian in the Washoe County system in 1994, when the original WC-1 tax override was passed. I saw first hand how this measure enabled us to open the Northwest Reno Library (and subsequently, the South Valleys and Spanish Springs branches). It also gave us the resources to bring the library online with the Internet, provide public computer access, and maintain a respectable collection of printed and electronic materials. I also saw how the community loved these facilities and services.

Does the failure of the 2024 WC-1 give you a mandate to massively cut the library's budget? I don't think so. Complicated ballot language and misinformation from partisan groups seem to have led many voters to mistakenly believe this measure would increase their taxes. I urge you to take this into account, and do the right thing by our community when the library budget comes up for your consideration.

Dear County Commissioners,

My name is Angie Mallari, and I am writing to ask you to please preserve the funding for the Washoe County Library System. I was born and raised in Reno and have lived here my entire life. Most of my childhood was spent in the libraries and I am incredibly sad to see that the WC-1 ballot question did not pass due to confusing and misleading wording.

The library system is such an important resource for our community and has helped me and many others throughout different periods of life. As a child, the reading groups developed my love for reading and education. From elementary school through college, I would visit the library to look for resources for projects and essays, or just a quiet space to study, read, and do homework. Earlier this year, I lost my job and went to the library every day while unemployed so that I could get assistance with job applications and resumes. Many people rely on the resources available at the library for free, especially when they cannot afford to get help anywhere else.

Not only does the library allow for free access to computers and internet, but they also have many programs for every age group - computer skills classes, Lego Robotics, craft groups, STEAM programs, maker studios, baby and toddler story times, homework and tutoring help sessions, game nights, and many more. They provide a multitude of services - many people even voted at the libraries this month. The libraries do their best to provide for the community - the libraries are heated in the winter, have AC in the summer, and supply media requested by the public. The libraries rely on the funding allocated from the tax that was on the ballot to operate like this. Without that funding, many libraries may be forced to shut down, the employees of those libraries will lose their jobs, and the community will be deprived of the educational resources, programs, and other opportunities.

The libraries help make our community better and I kindly ask that you preserve the funding for the Washoe County Library System.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

I’m a home owner in your district and I’m writing to ask you to make sure our libraries don’t lose funding.

WC-1 lost because of misinformation. As you know it would not increase taxes but much of the information about WC-1 made it seem like it would. No one wants new taxes. I don’t want them. But I do want some of my taxes I already pay to be allocated to our wonderful libraries.

I’ve lived all over from Arizona to Colorado, California to Alaska, and our library system in Washoe is one of the best. Please make sure they don’t lose money. They are such a wonderful asset for our community.

I do not believe that WC-1 failed because the Washoe community really wants to de-fund libraries. I believe it failed because of a purposeful campaign of misinformation. Many seemed to believe that an additional tax would be added, not that a current (and incredibly SMALL) tax would continue. Libraries are a fundamental part of our community. They provide essential resources to Washoe County families and a wealth of FREE information. If we want our children to be safe, educated, and supported then we need to make sure libraries are properly funded. Libraries are also an essential part of our democracy - they are spaces where everyone is treated equally, where all information is available, and no judgements are made as to what books are important. We can't be a truly strong, independent, or educated community if we don't fully fund our libraries. I ask that you continue to prioritize the funding of our libraries so that everyone in Washoe County can continue to be enriched by and enjoy these wonderful spaces. Thank you.

My name is Karlye, and I reside in District 1. I live a few blocks from the Downtown Reno Library branch and have frequented it for the 13 years I've lived in northern Nevada to pick up books and to vote. It is a treasure to our community, as is the Washoe County Library (WCLS) system. From free resources promoting literacy and knowledge to community-building events, the WCLS is critical to all who reside in our county. It's been established that the system has been funded by existing taxes; WC-1 was a continuation of these existing taxes.

No thanks to the unclearly worded question and misinformation distributed by the Washoe Country Republications in their voting guide, the question failed. Now libraries risk closing branches, cutting staff and resources, and much more due to a lack of understanding. I strongly urge Commissioner Chair Hill and the rest of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners to allocate two cents for every $100 of assessed property value toward Washoe County Libraries. Fund our libraries!

The Washoe County libraries are a vital resource for our community. Not only are libraries an alternative to the rampant consumerism that dominates our lives, reducing funding to the public libraries disproportionately impacts low-income families and individuals. In a state that already struggles with public education, a decline in library funding means children will continue to lose access to educational resources, the internet, a community, and not to mention just the ability to read for fun. I strongly encourage the prioritization of library resources.