Rising from the Ashes: The Impact of Proposition 13 on Public Libraries in California

Abstract

In 1978 Howard Jarvis was the driving force behind California’s Proposition 13, a direct ballot initiative that sought to reform the state’s property tax system. Officially titled the People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation, Proposition 13 passed on June 6 of that year and not only immediately cut property tax rates but also limited further increases within the state. As property taxes were and still are a primary source of funding for many public libraries, California librarians in the ensuing years struggled to maintain facilities, staff, and collections in the wake of the cuts. Librarians were also forced to expand their advocacy role in order to better quantify and convey the value of libraries to the public at large.