Voters overwhelmingly approve Lane Libraries’ first-ever levy

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(From left) Arvind Kochar, assistant branch manager of the Fairfield Lane Library; Mary Pat Essman, director of the Lane Libraries; and Carrie Mancuso, public relations manager of the Lane Libraries, react to early election results Tuesday, May 4, at Ryan’s Tavern in Hamilton.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy (From left) Arvind Kochar, assistant branch manager of the Fairfield Lane Library; Mary Pat Essman, director of the Lane Libraries; and Carrie Mancuso, public relations manager of the Lane Libraries, react to early election results Tuesday, May 4, at Ryan’s Tavern in Hamilton.

By Dave Greber, Staff Writer Updated 10:41 AM Wednesday, May 5, 2010

HAMILTON — Lane Public Libraries officials tasted victory in their first-ever trip to the ballot Tuesday, May 4.

Voters overwhelmingly approved Lane’s five-year, 0.75-mill levy 12,705 votes to 6,993, or 64.5 percent to 35.5 percent, according to final, unofficial results from the Butler and Preble county boards of elections. Never before in the Lane Libraries’ 144-year history had it placed a levy on the ballot.

The levy is expected to generate approximately $2.5 million annually for the Lane Libraries, which has branches in Oxford and Fairfield and is headquartered in Hamilton. Revenue will not be received by the library system until January 2011.

Library officials said cuts in revenue received from the state — nearly 18 percent in 2009 and another 10 percent expected still this year — compelled them to ask recession-weary voters for help.

“In a poor economy, that’s when libraries are used more, when people are depending on us for Internet access and job searches and other resources. That’s when people understand what we do,” said Lane Library Executive Director Mary Pat Essman. “What this shows us is the kind of support that our community gives to our libraries. Really tremendous support for what we do. I think it says a lot about our communities.”

State cuts also forced reductions locally. Last year, the library cut its hours back by a third, reduced its staff by more than 40 and held back on material purchases and technology investments.

It’s still too soon to determine whether some or all of the cuts will be restored, or when a move might be made, Essman said Tuesday. That’s because another 10 percent cut is expected from the state sometime later this year.

Essman said library administrators will prioritize maintaining current service levels and evaluate their financial situation as the end of the year approaches.

Tuesday turned out to be a good day overall for libraries in Butler County. The Middletown Public Library system also passed its 0.75-mill levy.

Contact this reporter at 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com