Apparently libraries are unaffordable.  As Outsider77 indicated, libraries are always the last thing that gets funded, and their closure is generally saved as a threat to use later, when city of country jurisdictions decide they want more public money.  

Case in point, Jon Ruiz's 2015 library levy, that he was so proud to get passed.  It really meant that he would get more indirect funds for his new city hall project.