State must leave our libraries alone

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8:43 AM Friday, June 26, 2009

If you’re able to read this, some of the credit probably belongs to the initial training you received at a public library.

While we understand that Gov. Ted Strickland has “tough” choices in order to balance the state’s budget, he shouldn’t sharpen his pencil at the expense of libraries.

On Friday, June 19, Strickland said he aims to reduce $227 million from public library funding in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 as part of his plan to fill the $3.2 billion gap in the state budget that must be balanced by the Ohio General Assembly’s Conference Committee by June 30.

That, as you can imagine, has librarians more upset than overdue materials, excessive talking and gum under the chairs.

They’re urging residents to call, e-mail and Twitter complaints to Strickland and Ohio legislators about a proposed 50 percent funding cut library officials.

They say the reductions will devastate library services and likely lead to cutbacks in hours, staff layoffs and branch closures.

Doug Bean, director of Middletown Public Library, which has branches in Trenton and West Chester Twp., said the funding cuts would “decimate” the library system.

Bean said the possible cuts are coming when people “need libraries more than ever.” He cited increased usage of the Internet, particularly for job searches.

Carrie Mancuso, head of public relations for The Lane Libraries, which has branches in Hamilton, Oxford and Fairfield, said she’s urging people to understand the effect this could have.

Thankfully, at least on the first day, Monday, June 22, people responded to the librarians’ request. Strickland’s office logged 1,356 calls, 80 percent of them regarding library funding, said spokeswoman Amanda Wurst. On a normal day, his office gets about 150 calls, she said.

With the state facing a projected $3.2 billion shortfall in revenue, the governor’s proposal re-sizes government and cuts nearly every line item, Wurst said.

She called them “extraordinarily difficult decisions.”

We have a more succinct response to Strickland’s potential library cutbacks: “No way!”

Hopefully, the governor can read our lips.

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