Ohio libraries might lose millions in the newest version of the state budget, which began deliberations yesterday in the Ohio House of Representatives.
There's nothing good for libraries in the budget
said Steve Hedges, director of Athens County Libraries.
This cut is just another in a series of cuts and freezes, said Doug Evans, executive director of the Ohio Library Council. Since 2001, Ohio libraries have experienced cuts of more than 8 percent.
Cuts this year could be as much as 5 percent more or about $22 million. The library budget is expected to be about $440 million, Evans said.
A proposed amendment to restore funding to libraries failed in the Ohio House yesterday, said state Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens.
These cuts have already strained Ohio's unique library system, which is funded mostly by income taxes and various private donations. However, this system makes Ohio libraries great, Evans said.
If you go across the state at least you'll see a comparable level of service Evans said. Ohio has the best formula in the nation.
Many other states' libraries have to rely on local income tax laws, which means a library in one county can be vastly different in terms of service and available materials than a library in the neighboring county.
The budget also proposes a 21 percent cut to the income tax within five years. Because libraries get their funding from the income tax, this is another large blow to libraries, Stewart said.
About 6 percent of the income tax goes directly to libraries, Hedges said.
The library is part of the community, said Cindy Hilsheimer, president of the Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees, in a testimony before the Ohio House Finance Committee.
I am concerned that libraries are viewed too often as simply a place to borrow a good book
Hilsheimer said. Libraries provide services such as story time programs, teen programs and adult outreach programs that could be eliminated, she said.
The six Athens County Libraries, which receive a total of about $2 million a year, are also concerned with the recent round of reductions. They are not sure yet how they will deal with the cuts because they do not take effect until January 2006, said Hedges.
He said past penny-pinching methods, such as material acquisitions and staff cuts, are very possible.
Even though our staff is down 15 percent from 2001
Hedges said, our circulation is up by 15 percent.
However, there may be alternative sources for funding. Despite cutting library budgets, the legislature authorized libraries to charge for audio and visual material, but Hedges said he seriously doubts the Athens County libraries will take advantage of this provision.
(The legislature) wants to put us in the video rental business. That just mystifies me
Hedges said.
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