For Immediate Release: November 15, 2006

Work on Critical Improvements Continue
in Wake of Measure N's Narrow Defeat

****************************************************

(Oakland, CA)-- Measure N, a $148 million facilities bond measure for the Oakland Public Library on the November 7 ballot, failed to receive the two-thirds margin it needed in order to pass. The final results showed that Measure N received 56,135 “yes” votes, or 63.79% of the total votes cast. If passed, Measure N would have funded improvements to all 16 branches (including the African American Museum and Library) of the Oakland Public Library, constructed two new branch libraries in areas currently without library services, and relocated the main library to a renovated Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center. It would have been the first dedicated library bond measure to win voter approval since 1945.

“I am heartened and will always appreciate the passion with which our supporters expressed their love for Oakland’s foremost lifelong learning institution,” said Carmen Martinez, Library Director. “We will learn from this election loss, and I want to let our supporters know that we will be working hard to find other ways of funding the important improvements recommended by our facilities master plan.”

Measure N was placed on the November ballot by the Oakland City Council as a first step towards implementing the Oakland Public Library’s comprehensive Master Facilities Plan (2006). This plan, which took nearly four years to complete, and received extensive input from over 4,000 people, documented the critical lack of space and other facility problems which constrain collections and services needed for a growing population, in which 25% of residents rely on the library for computer and Internet services.

The Oakland Public Library will continue to work on construction of a joint school/public library in the East Oakland district, thanks to a $6.5 million California state bond it received last year. The library will also prioritize and work with the City Administrator and Mayor-elect, Ron Dellums, to identify Capital Improvement funds for the most critical projects.

###