Library director objects to governor's budget plan

by JOHN LASKO

News-Times reporter

Amherst Public Library executive director Robin Wood is crying foul over how Governor Ted Strickland's proposed plan to offset the state's $3.2 billion budget deficit will affect both the library and their patrons.

At a news conference last Friday, Strickland proposed to cut nearly $227.3 million in state library funding over a two year period. Seventy percent of public libraries throughout the state -- including Amherst -- rely heavily on this funding to pay for such things as employee salaries and benefits, utilities, maintenance, as well as material costs like books, magazines, CDs, DVDs and computers.

The money also goes towards paying for such services geared towards children, teenagers and adults like the library's summer reading program, storytime sessions and resume writing workshops.

"It's devastating to learn about this eight days before this is supposedly going to happen with no warning whatsoever -- we had no idea this was coming" Wood said. "I don't understand why he is going after public libraries."

If the legislature were to pass Strickland's budget before the end of the current state fiscal year on Tuesday, June 30, the Amherst Public Library would stand to lose 35 percent of its total funding from the state starting the very next day. This cut is in addition to a 20 percent reduction in funding here and other libraries across the state are already facing as a result of the state's declining general revenue fund.

"Amherst has been able to absorb this hit without making any cuts because we've been pretty good stewards of public funding and we've been able to make those reductions behind the scenes," Wood said. "We just won't be able to continue to do that anymore."

For this fiscal year, the library has budgeted to receive a total of $840,000 from the state. If Strickland's budget becomes reality, the library would only receive only half this amount or $420,000.

"Here in Amherst, we see people coming in to the library to use our free high speed Internet access to help with employment searches," Wood said. Children and teens are beginning summer reading programs and people of all ages are turning to the library as a lifeline during these difficult economic times."

Some of the cuts the library may be forced to impose on their patrons include reducing their operating hours from 60 hours a week, cutting staff members and materials, along with other services the library provides free of charge.

Additionally, if the governor's has his way next Tuesday, the library's plans to expand their current facilities will be in jeopardy.

According to the Ohio Library Council, Strickland's budget cuts would reduce library funding across the board by nearly 47 percent in fiscal year 2010 to $112.5 million and 45 percent in 2011 to $114.8 million.

"The governor's plan would cut the state's public library fund far beyond the relative reductions in state revenues and more than double the reductions projected by the Ohio Department of Taxation," Ohio Library Council spokeswoman Mackenzie Betts said.

After receiving the shocking news, Wood started contacting Strickland, state Senator Sue Morano, along with state Representative Terry Boose (R-58) by telephone and e-mail over the weekend, voicing her opposition with the way the proposed budget is written.

"The governor is not touching education money as part of his budget reductions, which I am all for, but the library is part of the education process," she said. "I just don't understand where he thinks if libraries across the state close their doors or reduce their hours, where are students going to go to do their research papers?"

Some of the other money the library receives comes in the form of a one-mill permanent property tax levy. This means the owner of a $100,000 home pays $15.52 a year to the library's general fund. Nearly five percent of their funding comes from fines and other fees.

If anyone would like to voice their own concerns regarding this particular issue, they can do so by going to www.saveohiolibraries.com. Under the "get started" header located on the right side of the web page are ways to contact Strickland, along with state legislators via the telephone, e-mail or regular mail.

"It's critical because we're less then eight days away from a decision," Wood said. "If this goes through, it will be devastating for our library."

On average, nearly 24,000 items are checked out by more than 15,000 people who visit the library each month. Patrons also log 1,600 Internet sessions per month.