Directors: Library cuts will hobble county branches

By DAVID J. COEHRS

Expositor Features Editor

The Ohio Senate approved an interim budget Monday that allows legislators seven more days to consider Gov. Ted Strickland's titanic $3.2 billion in proposed cuts to the state's two-year spending plan.

But amidst the flood of $2.4 billion in specific cuts the governor released Friday, the staffs struggling to keep Fulton County public libraries afloat are sending an SOS.

County library directors say decreasing their operating funds by half will hobble their services.

Strickland's budgeting acrobatics are calling for shearing another 30 percent off public library support. Individually, the state's 251 public libraries already have taken an average 20 percent hit in funding due to shrinking tax revenue.

A recent report from the Ohio Department of Taxation lists 2008 state library funding at $450.5 million. The governor's budget cuts would ultimately reduce the spending to $266 million this year.

Because 70 percent of Ohio libraries operate solely on state funds, approval of Strickland's proposal would likely force some to close.

"It will be absolutely devastating if this were to go through," said Douglas Evans, executive director of the Ohio Library Council. "They have a lot of options, none of which are good. What we question is whether or not a 50 percent cut is fair."

Statistics have shown "an astronomical increase" in library Internet usage this year, as patrons seek job listings, reference services and business networking tools, he said.

Ohio public libraries have historically been ranked among the best in the country because tax dollars help to fund them, he added.

Normal Memorial Library in Fayette operates wholly on government funding. If this year's projected $168,000 budget is sliced in half the library faces probable cutting of staff hours. Or it could possibly be forced to close its doors.

"It's up in the air right now, what's going to happen," Director Sally Canfield said.

The library has already cut service hours. Staff hours could be next, as well as programming and the book budget. No decisions have been made, but the library board may have to gather in emergency session before its scheduled September meeting, Canfield said.

The community may also have to consider a tax levy to bridge the gap, she said.

With the implied cuts, the library's fate could be sealed.

"I don't want to say 'yes' (we will close), but I don't know how we could operate," Canfield said. "I think people depend on us for a lot of the services. For a small community, I think it would be missed if it wasn't here."

The Archbold Community Library's is still stinging from losing $51,000 of its expected $270,000 2009 budget. Now it faces additional cuts totaling $33,652, which leaves remaining revenue equal to 1998 levels.

To offset the loss, the library board voted Monday to close Fridays, Sundays during the fall and winter, and at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Material expenditures will be reduced by about $11,000.

That means cuts in staff and operating hours, a significant reduction in book and DVD purchases, the cancellation of $600 worth of magazine subscriptions, a 50 percent cut in children's programming and a decrease in inter-library loan deliveries.

"No library can sustain (revenue) cuts like this without dramatically slashing budgets," Director Joyce Klingelsmith said. "Closing at least one day a week is a definite probability."

Because the state's library funding has remained stagnant since 2001, the Archbold branch has been reducing materials for a couple of years. But the new cuts will resonate even deeper within the community, Klingelsmith said.

The library passed a .7-mill five-year operating levy renewal in May. However, the state cuts will now undermine the $140,000 it will generate annually from property taxes.

"Other costs keep going up," she said. "It's tough to see all these catalogs of all the new books coming out and knowing I can't purchase any of them."

She added that it seems the governor is giving preferential treatment to business, "and we're just service to people. I think he's faced with a very difficult position, (but) I think libraries have done their fair share since 2001. My concern is that if this goes through we'll never get it back."

In Wauseon, the public library's $346,946 budget was already down about 16 percent from the previous year when the 20 percent reduction was instituted.

Director Joan (Jodi) Pershing and the library board made across-the-board cuts in March. Two staff members were laid off, administrators took a 10 percent pay cut, the library now closes on Fridays and less books, magazines and audio-visuals are being ordered.

With the additional budget cut looming, the Wauseon branch could face another reduction of service and staff hours and offer even less programming.

"It's definitely hurting us. "I don't think it's a fair approach. There should be a way to do this across the board that doesn't affect people's services," Pershing said.

She's hoping the library can offer programs free through sponsors and donations. But because 85 percent of the library's funding is through state coffers and is not backed by local taxes, some may have to go.

"I think there are going to be cuts, but I pray not 50 percent," she said. "I want to thank the public for responding to what the governor has proposed."

The library board may have an emergency meeting if Strickland's budget passes, but for now members can only wait and see.

Not everyone has taken a fatalistic view. Delta Public Library Director Patricia Grover prefers to believe the Ohio General Assembly will realize the state economy won't be saved by slashing the library fund.

"I think we'll suffer some cuts, but not to the extent that's proposed," she said.

The library's state allowance for 2009 was $272,450. The state's 20 percent cut will drain upwards of $54,490 from that amount.

Grover said another cut would mean reducing service and staff hours and paring the materials budget. Book funds, which have already been snipped 20 percent, may be cut further.

"We're not going to operate out of panic and fear. We're going to look at he best way to serve the community with what we have," she said.

If necessary, $120,000 generated annually by a 1-mill, five-year operational levy passed in 2007 would be re-directed.

The library board will not meet in emergency session, but hold its regularly scheduled meeting July 14.

"I think we'll be okay, but we'll be looking ahead to the future," Grover said. "I don't feel we'll end up in a deficit. I operate in the positive. That's my philosophy."