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Librarians fear ‘snowball’ effect of proposed state funding cuts

Directors note that public libraries offer visitors a variety of services, including Internet access for job searches.

Libraries campaign against ‘devastating’ cuts

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writers 12:35 AM Wednesday, June 24, 2009

It is a financial plot twist that librarians in Butler, Warren and Preble counties never saw coming.

At a news conference Friday, June 19, Gov. Ted Strickland proposed a cut to state funding for public libraries of $227.3 million 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.

“We didn’t have the luxury of a warning with this announcement,” said Mason Public Library director Sarah Brown. “I knew there would be some cuts because of the economy, but never did I think it would be 50 percent.”

On Monday, June 22, area library directors scrambled to get the word out to their patrons about the possible “devastating” budget cuts.

At Lebanon Public Library, director Julie Florence hastily put together an information sheet about the cuts and how people can get in touch with elected officials to voice their concerns.

“We’ve already been pinching pennies every way we can because of recent fund reductions,” Florence said. “But, if you cut a boat in half, it’s going to sink. This is extremely serious.”

Abby Noland, director of Preble County District Library, added: “I’m thinking (of cutting) bookmobile, I’m thinking maybe we can work out of churches. Obviously we are going to have to reduce hours. I can’t see holding on to all my staff.”

In Middletown and Hamilton, library officials said that if the proposed cuts go through, they will be forced to reduce staffing and hours of operation and buy fewer new materials.

“And all this is happening when people need libraries more than ever,” said Doug Bean, director of the Middletown Public Library. He cited increased usage of the Internet, particularly for job searches.

Area libraries are highly dependent on state funding, which is tied to state tax revenues. Those revenues have plunged, causing libraries to cut their budgets by about 20 percent already this year.

Lane libraries, which received $5.9 million from the state in 2008, imposed furloughs on nonmanagerial workers and planned to reduce salaries of managers.

Middletown’s library system, which has branches in Trenton and West Chester Twp., has had to make funding cuts as well.

Middletown libraries, which received $5.5 million from the state in 2008, has been reducing staff through attrition, Bean said. The materials budget has already been cut by 15 percent, although the trims affect less-popular items, he said.

Area library directors said their boards will meet over the next few days to discuss options and find ways to stay afloat.

Mary L. Cook Library Director Linda Swartzel said the governor doesn’t seem to be aware of the impact libraries have on a community’s infrastructure.

“If he just walked into our building to see the services given, maybe he’d understand better,” Swartzel said. “We’re not just focusing on children. We have senior programs. Unemployed people come use our resources to find jobs. If we’re not here, it will be a snowball effect across the community.”

Staff Writer Lynn Hulsey contributed to this report.

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