Libraries seek tax hikes to stanch red ink

Thanks to Amy for directing me to this story from today's Chicago Tribune:

Four southwest suburban library districts, strapped for cash to provide services the public increasingly is demanding, are counting on voters next month to approve tax rate increases.

If history is an indicator, the tax hike referendum items on the March 16 ballot could face stiff resistance from voters, many of whom think they already are paying too much in property taxes.

But what if their libraries CLOSED? I know property taxes are high, but if your library if forced to close because you wanted to save a extra few bucks by voting "no," could you really go buy all the books, videos, dvds, cds, computer, expert assistance, etc. to which your library currently provides you access?

(How do you spell Howard Dean's primal scream? I would like to utter it now. Grr.)