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UPDATE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 
The cut to the Public Library Fund is less than originally proposed, but still significant.

Governor's budget proposal devastating to public libraries
State legislature's June 30 decision would take effect July 1.

At a news conference on Friday, June 19, the Governor proposed a further cut to state funding for public libraries of 30% ($227.3 million in fiscal years 2010 and 2011) as part of his plan to fill the $3.2 billion gap in the budget that must be balanced by the Ohio General Assembly's Conference Committee by June 30. This cut is in addition to the 20% reduction in funding that libraries are already facing, because their funding comes from 2.22% of the state’s declining General Revenue Fund.

This will mean a more than 50% CUT IN FUNDING for many of Ohio's public libraries. Libraries could close or face significant reductions in operations as a result of the Governor's proposal. With some 70% of the state's 251 public libraries relying solely on state funding to fund their operations, the reduction in funding will mean that many will close branches or drastically reduce hours and services.

The Governor's 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 access and help with employment searches, 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.

Ohio's public libraries offer CRITICAL services to those looking for jobs and operating small businesses. Public libraries are an integral part of education, which Governor Strickland says is critical to the state's economic recovery. But it is unlikely that many of Ohio's public library systems, especially those without local levies, can remain open with these proposed cuts.

About 30% of Ohio's public libraries have local property tax levies that supplement the state's funding. However, with the Governor's proposed drastic cuts in the state funding for libraries, even those libraries will face decisions regarding substantial reductions in hours of operation, materials, and staffing. Local taxes, fine, fees, and donations cannot make up the difference.

The Grandview Library would be hit with a $855,000 reduction per year in state revenue. Consequently, the Library Board would need to drastically reduce services and hours.

For additional information on how this impacts the Library, call Director Mary Ludlum at 614-486-2954.

Let your state legislators and the governor know what your library means to you!

(Email all legislators at once with a form - including sample letter - from the Columbus Metropolitan Library!)

Locate your State Representative or State Senator. Call or click below to directly e-mail your elected officials.

• Governor Ted Strickland
  Call 614-644-4357 or 614-466-3555
  contact online


State Senators

• Senator Bill Harris, President of the Senate
  614-466-8086
  SD19@senate.state.oh.us
• Senator John Carey, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee
  614-466-8156
  SD17@senate.state.oh.us
  
• Senator Jim Hughes, 16th District
  614-466-5981
  SD16@senate.state.oh.us


State Representatives


• Representative Ted Celeste, District 24
  (614) 644-6005
  district24@ohr.state.oh.us
• Representative Armond Budish, Speaker of the House
  614-466-5441
  District08@ohr.state.oh.us
• Representative Vernon Sykes, Chairman of the House
  Finance Committee
  614-466-3100
  District44@ohr.state.oh.us
  
  House Conference Committee
  
• Vernon Sykes
  614- 466-3100
  District44@ohr.state.oh.us
• Jay Goyal
  614-466-5802
  District73@ohr.state.oh.us
• Ron Amstutz
  614-466-1474
  District03@ohr.state.oh.us




Senate Conference Committee

• Dale Miller
  614-466-5123
  SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us
• John Carey
  614-466-8156
  SD17@senate.state.oh.us
• Mark Wagoner
  614-466-8060
  SD02@senate.state.oh.us

Spread the word!

After contacting your legislators, help us spread the word to your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. Here are some suggestions:

• Visit Save Ohio Libraries
  
  
• Update your Facebook status
  "_____ contacted my elected officials to help save Ohio libraries and you should too. Find out more: http://tinyurl.com/save-oh-lib"
  
  
• Post a message on the Governor's Facebook page
  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ted-Strickland/19256549800?ref=ts
  
  
• Post a tweet on Twitter
  "I contacted my elected officials to help save Ohio libraries and you should too. Find out more: http://tinyurl.com/save-oh-lib"
  
  
• Change your profile picture on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites

  Right click on the image at left, save it to your desktop, and upload as your profile picture to show your support of Ohio libraries
  

• Send an email to your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues.
  Ohio libraries are in jeopardy. I contacted the governor and my legislators to let them know what my library means to me. Find out how you can help, too: http://tinyurl.com/save-oh-lib
  

Learn more

• BUDGET BACKLASH: Libraries rally supporters to oppose budget cuts
  The Columbus Dispatch, June 23, 2009
• Ohio Governor Proposes Halving State Support; Many Libraries Could Close
  Library Journal, June 19, 2009
• State budget cuts could close some libraries
  Dayton Daily News, June 19, 2009
• Strickland calls for a sea change on slots
  The Columbus Dispatch, June 20, 2009
• Governor proposes slots
  Ohio.com, June 20, 2009
  
• Funding cut information from the Ohio Library Council
  Monday, June 22, 2009