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Tuesday, 23 June 2009 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — The funding for the St. Marys Community Public Library was under critical examination as the board of trustees met Monday afternoon to discuss Gov. Ted Strickland’s budget proposal and the proposed cuts to public libraries.
His proposal includes $215 million in cuts and $112 million of that would come from Ohio public libraries.
“The purpose of our meeting is to discuss our options and to encourage patrons to write the representatives to reject the proposal,” Library Director Sue Pittman said. “Ninety-six percent of our funds come from the Public Library Fund, the other 4 percent comes from fines, fees and donations.”
The proposal includes an additional 30 percent cut to the 20 percent cut that state libraries and local libraries are already dealing with in operating budgets.
“This means we will have more than a 50 percent cut in funding for many of Ohio’s public libraries,” Pittman said.
She told the trustees that 70 percent of public libraries rely solely on the Public Library Fund and 30 percent of public libraries have local property tax levies.
Pittman discussed the proposal with board members and began a conversation about actions to take to try and stop the proposal from being approved.
“This is very serious,” Pittman said.
“So far this year, circulation is up 9 percent, so public libraries are being used. This decision will come down in the next eight to nine days, if the proposal is accepted we are going to be hurting. The important thing is for patrons to e-mail or phone the governor, Sen. (Keith) Faber, Rep. (John) Adams and ask the governor’s proposal be rejected.”
Pittman said letters were sent to local organizations such as the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, the Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Library to help spread the word.
“This can be stopped, it would be bad for us to not try and stop it,” Pittman said.
Fiscal officer Robert Maurer discussed the numbers of the cuts and how it would affect the library.
“We would lose $130,000 for the first year (2010) and $133,00 for the second year (2011),” Maurer said. “He (Strickland) is really putting the burden a lot on libraries.”
The main option the board discussed was implementing a levy, if the governor’s current budget proposal is passed.
“If this goes into affect, we would definitely need a levy,” Maurer said. “The deadline for filing a levy is Aug. 20.”
Maurer discussed the option of a levy with the trustees and said if a levy was not passed, major cuts would have to be made within the library. Those cuts could include a reduction in hours of operation as well as layoffs.
Maurer also reminded the board any funding cuts would impact libraries across the state.
“It’s 251 libraries,” Maurer said. “Everyone will see the same percentage reduction, but libraries have really gotten on this fast, especially the large libraries. He (Strickland) may have underestimated the power of libraries and their leverage.”
The trustees agreed the best plan of action is to get the word out because the time frame the community has to object to the proposal is approaching. The cuts, if approved, would go into effect July 1.
“Our best efforts are spent getting out information to anyone that will send an e-mail,” trustee Don Glaser said. “All we can do at this point it continue to get the word out.”
Pittman agreed with Glaser and asked board members to get the word out.
“Send e-mails and e-mail your friends and ask them to send e-mails,” Pittman said.
Pittman also informed the group that there is a link on the St. Marys Community Public Library Web site at www.stmarys.lib.oh.us to click on the proposal and an e-mail will appear for them to send in opposition of the proposal.
“It would be such a disaster if we would have to close a library like this,” trustee DeWayne Marsee said.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 July 2009 )
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