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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New Hours?
Lane Library Council reviewed the information concerning usage. They decided that they would recommend to the Lane Library Board that the following change of hours would be at each branch: Monday through Thursday – 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Friday, Saturday and Sunday – 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Concerned
7:45 AM, 7/10/2009

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Dear - I'm well aware that schools are mandated to provide certain things, busing and sports not being amongst them. Schools aren't required to overpay bloated administrators and greedy teachers so much either, but they do. The fact of the matter is that when cuts have to be made, crooked school boards aim at things like busing - not the fat at the top - because they know parents and taxpayers will give in and pay up to avoid the incinvenience of having to take their kids to school.

Uncle Andy
4:53 PM, 6/28/2009

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Uncle Andy
4:52 PM, 6/28/2009

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For the 1000th time..... Schools are required by law to provide certain services. When you cut your own budget, you usually cut things that are not required to the day to day operation of your home. Busses are NOT a requirement mandated by the state--they are a convenience provided by a district, thus, it is one of the first things cut. The same goes for extracurriculars/sports. I wish people like you would research the truth before you make accusations.

Dear Uncle Andy
8:18 AM, 6/28/2009

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Veteran, the mission statements of public libraries say that they will support the educational, informational and recreational needs of their respective communities. Music CDs, DVDs and video games fill each of those needs along side books. How new formats will impact budgets is discussed before they buy. Besides, libraries only spend about 20% of their budgets on all that and the rest of the things we check out. Spending a lot less than that these days.

Nei
10:41 PM, 6/27/2009

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