Officials of the Athens County public libraries discussed several ways to deal with a potential funding cut at an emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees last week. Possible options include cutting library hours or floating a local tax levy sometime next year.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s latest proposal to fill a $3.2 billion hole in the state budget would cut funding to Ohio libraries by 30 percent. When added to 20 percent in cuts that have already taken place, libraries in the state would end up working with half the funds they had previously.
Athens County Public Libraries Director Lauren Miller said the potential cut could have a range of local impacts, including increased fees, decreased materials, cuts in hours and possible furloughs for employees.

Strickland’s proposal would reduce monies going into the Public Library Fund by $112.5 million in 2010 and $114.8 million in 2011. With 70 percent of the state’s 251 public libraries relying solely on the PLF to fund their operations, Ohio Library Council lobbyist Lynda Murray said in an e-mail to statewide public library directors that the reduction in funding would mean that many libraries would have to close branches and cut hours and services.

Before going into executive session to discuss personnel, library Board of Trustees member Anita Reliford said they would make it a top priority to avoid layoffs.

“We are here to do everything we can to keep as many libraries open as many hours as we can, and still not lay anyone off,” Reliford said. “We’re talking about changing hours.

We’re talking about closing each of the libraries sometime. And I can assure you we’re going to do our very best.”

In Athens County, a 50 percent cut to the PLF would reduce funding from $2.18 million $1.09 million.
Miller pointed out that community members in Athens County depend on their public library branches for Internet connection, with 61,347 library Internet users in Athens County.

“The library isn’t just for checking out books,” Miller said. “We have purposefully made our libraries community centers… Libraries have become a place for friends and neighbors to catch up with each other. We provide free family activities.”

The e-mail from Murray stated that the proposed funding cuts come at a time when Ohio’s public libraries are experiencing unprecedented increases in demands for services.

“In every community throughout the state, Ohioans are turning to their public library for free high speed Internet to access information on employment opportunities,” Murray said. “Children and teens are beginning summer reading programs, and people of all ages are turning to the library for information and entertainment.”

Miller said Athens County may see a major cutback in hours of operation at the Athens branch and the six other branches, as well as possible staff furloughs.

“We may have to start charging rental fees for DVDs and video,” Miller added. The county also may have to “mothball” certain library branches until they come out of this budget crunch, she said.
From the Chauncey branch, library head Teresa Iles told the board she knows they have a very difficult job ahead of them.

“Our children are already a step behind when it comes to cultural [resources] and the availability of certain things in that small village,” Iles said. “Chauncey provides these children a place to go to do their homework. Not only a place to sit down and read a book and to get on the Internet, but also, I, as a grandmother, take my grandchildren there.”

She added that traveling to other branches is difficult for many library patrons. “I don’t know what the answer is,” she said. “I know you good people are putting a lot of time and energy into finding a fair way to distribute the available funding.”

From the Coolville branch, Roxanne Rupe said she lives for her community and the opportunities that the library affords its patrons.

“There’s not income levels to go to other [branches],” Rupe said. “Today, I’m just here to plead for my community.”

Miller said the most important thing for the branches and community members to keep in mind is the need to stick together as the Athens County team. “We can’t divide ourselves,” she said. “We’ve got to stick together.”

The Athens County Public Libraries include branches in Nelsonville, Athens, The Plains, Glouster, Chauncey, Coolvile and the Wells library in Albany. Miller encouraged members of the community to contact Gov. Ted Strickland’s office at 614-466-3555, as well as state Sen. Jimmy Stewart at 614-466-8076 and state Rep. Debbie Phillips at 614-466-2158.
 

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