Fri Sep 03 2010
by Mike Sever
Record-Courier Reporter
If adopted, Gov. Ted Strickland's proposed reduction in library funding would mean 50 percent less for operations starting July 1 and may result in drastic service cuts, the director of the Portage County District Library said June 22.
Cecilia Swanson said the cuts would be "a devastating blow" to library operations, adding state funding to libraries has been in steady decline since 2001.
"We've been making cuts since the decline began," she said. "For the most part, over the years we've been able to minimize the impact on our service to the public, but that changed this year. You cannot cut 20 percent from your budget without affecting service."
Swanson said the library administration is looking at various scenarios if the cuts go through, including the possibility of closing branches, personnel layoffs and not buying new materials.
"We've had to reduce staff already this year; we've already reduced the hours of operation" of all branches to five days a week, eight hours a day, as of February, she said.
On June 19, Strickland proposed an additional cut in the state Public Library Fund of $112.5 million in fiscal year 2010 and $114.8 million in 2011 as part of his plan to fill a $3.2 billion gap in the state budget.
This would mean an additional 30 percent cut for many of Ohio's public libraries on top of a 20 percent drop in funding due to a drop in state tax revenues.
Swanson said the possible cuts come at a time more people are coming to libraries to apply for jobless benefits and to use library resources to look for jobs.
"If we have to shorten our hours any more, we're not serving the community," Swanson said.
The PCDL has branches in Aurora, Brimfield, Garrettsville, Randolph, Streetsboro and Windham. The Kent Free Library and Reed Memorial Library in Ravenna are independent of those.
"We want to make sure we have representative coverage. We are really looking at how we can minimize taking things away from the public," Swanson said.
The library board's next regular meeting is July 16. However, the board may have an emergency meeting prior to July 1 to look at options in case the worst case scenario comes to pass, Swanson said.
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Telephone: 330-296-9657
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