October 28, 2024
Local News | Bureau County Republican
Local News

Voters approve making Buda's Mason Memorial Library a district library

By Goldie Rapp

Mason Memorial Library is at 104 W. Main St. in Buda. Library leaders promoted a referendum to expand the library's service area to those parts of Manlius, Macon and Concord townships unserved by a library taxing district. On Tuesday, voters approved the proposition. (BCR file)

BUDA — Voters in Manlius, Macon and Concord townships have approved turning Buda's Mason Memorial Library into a district library.

Tuesday's unofficial results showed a total of 183 "yes" votes to 60 "no" votes. Breaking down that overall tally between unincorporated area voters vs. incorporated voters: Unincorporated unofficial results showed 48 "yes" votes to 38 "no" votes. Incorporated official results showed 135 "yes" votes to 22 "no" votes.

Mason Memorial Library Director Peg Foster was nearly speechless Tuesday night about the positive outcome.

"I can't tell you how exciting this is," she said. "I'm really thankful all these people came out and exercised their right to vote today. It makes me incredibly happy to know there are people who want to save this library in a world where they love to tear things down all the time."

Foster said the journey of this library referendum has been "up and down."

"With the amount of money we've got right now, it really scared me, because we're really close and in dire need. The community doesn't need to lose anything more."

As previously reported, if voters would have voted down this referendum, the library would have only had enough operating revenue to keep its doors open one year after the current fiscal year.