Concern turned to jubilation Tuesday night as Norwin Public Library supporters and leaders gathered to celebrate the defeat of a taxpayer referendum they say could have doomed the facility.

The referendum, promoted by a taxpayer group, would have repealed 1 mill of a 1.2-mill library tax.

The library board of trustees mounted an aggressive campaign against the referendum, which was on the ballot in North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin, the municipalities that make up the Norwin School District.

The referendum was defeated by almost 3,000 votes.

"Once again, people in the Norwin community came out strong in support of the library," said lawyer William F. Caruthers III, spokesman for the board. "Such a commitment will ensure the library will remain an essential asset in our growing community."

He added: "If the referendum had passed, the library certainly would have closed its doors in time. The future of the library was at stake."

Meanwhile, several members of the taxpayer group met in Mary Lou's Beauty Shop in Irwin to ponder the referendum's resounding defeat.

"What shocks me is the 2-to-1 margin we lost by," said Mary Lou Patterson, leader of the group. "You can never predict what will happen in an election, but I felt we had a chance to win.

"Our group gave it a good shot, but we could not overcome their organized campaign. We just didn't have the financial resources and support the library board can draw on."

The group might consider circulating petitions to place a similar referendum on the November election ballot.

"This effort isn't over yet," Mrs. Patterson said.

The current library tax was increased from 0.2 mill to 1.2 mills through a successful referendum initiated by the library board in 2000. School directors can, at their discretion, increase the levy without approval of district taxpayers.