Ames voters passed a referendum to expand the Ames Public Library on Tuesday.

The City Council and Ames Library Board have been debating the future of the library for more than two years. In 2009, the groups started discussing if a new library was necessary.

The initial proposal was for a 77,000-square-foot project totaling $20 million. Of that amount, $2 million would come from philanthropic donations.

The referendum passed by voters allows the city to enter into a loan agreement and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $18 million to expand, renovate and buy new equipment such as books and computers for the Ames Public Library.

Unofficial numbers from all 20 Ames precincts showed that 5,195 votes were cast on the referendum.

Of the votes, 3,960 (76.23 percent) people voted yes, and 1,235 (23.77 percent) voted no.