From books to bikes: Funding cuts could hamper library operations
Amy L. Knapp IndeOnline.com staff writer
Library officials are urging state lawmakers to maintain funding at 2016 levels so that local libraries can continue to provide a complete array of services.
The issue: Libraries across Ohio are poised to lose millions in state funding.
Why it matters: If current funding levels are not maintained, local library officials say they may not be able to offer all of the services they do now — from books to bikes, e-readers to children's programs and senior services.
Local library officials joined colleagues at the state capital this week to urge legislators to maintain funding for the more than 250 public libraries in Ohio.
Delegations from both the Massillon Public Library and Stark County District Library teamed with public library directors, staff members, trustees and library patrons from across the state at the 2017 Ohio Library Council Legislative Day on Wednesday to remind lawmakers of the valuable programs and resources that could be in jeopardy without adequate funding.
It is a critical time for libraries, officials said, citing an uncertain economic climate and funding cuts.
Under the state's proposed 2018 fiscal year budget, which begins July 1, libraries would see a funding drop of more than $7 million when the Public Library Fund is reduced from 1.7 percent of the state's General Revenue Fund to 1.66 percent.
State legislators bumped the funding formula for fiscal year 2016 and 2017 to the 1.7 percent level after the Ohio Library Council began a campaign to educate legislators about the services libraries provide.
The Ohio Library Council estimates libraries will lose $7.7 million in the first year of the biennium budget.
"We are not asking them to give us more but rather maintain the level (of funding) we have been receiving," Massillon Public Library Director Sherie Brown said. "The Ohio Library Council is being proactive. I think we are making sure our library users know what is at stake. We have good voters that know the value of the library in the community even if they don't use it."
Funding questions
Public libraries receive funding from the state through the Public Library Fund. Each month, the PLF receives 1.7 percent of the state's total tax revenue collected from a number of sources, including the state personal income tax, sales and use tax, business taxes and more.
The PLF funding is doled out to individual libraries based on a formula that takes into account a variety of factors such as the number of card holders, how many materials are checked out, how many people are visiting the library and attending programs, website visitors, how much is spent on technology and materials and square footage.
According to the Ohio Public Library Council, since 2001 libraries across the state have lost nearly $1.2 million in funding. And while legislators bumped the percentage of funding during the past two fiscal years, the state revenues were below estimates and funding for the libraries decreased.
For years, library leaders have been trying to make up for the lost money.
While financial support on the state level has been declining for more than 15 years, things really took a downswing in 2008, when then Gov. Ted Strickland proposed cutting library funding in half.
"There was an uprising from the library users and they backed down," Brown said. "But still it was about a 23 percent cut."
Many libraries, including Massillon, haven't restored hours, days of operations, staffing levels and other spending to what it was before the cut.
"We understand the situation at the state level," Brown said. "When we sat down with legislators (this week), there were plenty of other people there before us asking for funding. Everybody has a need to provide really good service and there is only X number of dollars to go around."
With less to spread around, Brown is grateful taxpayers in the library's coverage area — Massillon City School District and the villages of Navarre and Brewster — supported a 2.9-mill operating levy in 2015 that included an additional 1 mill of funding. The new money generated from that levy — about $1.3 million annually — covers about half of the library's budget, she said.
Massillon library leaders saw the writing on the wall.
"We didn't ever expect to see state levels (of funding) go back to the levels (of years ago)," Brown said. "And that is what came to pass."
The library is expected to see about $1.4 million from the state this year.
Libraries doing more
Despite the drop in funding, more and more expectations are being placed on libraries.
When Gov. John Kasich announced his budget plans, he talked about library's being equipped to help with adult education and job skills training.
"Those are things we can do but you can't take money away and expect us to maintain that," Brown said.
Stark County District Library Executive Director Tena Wilson said the earlier funding cuts have forced the library to depend on its residents to cover about half of operating costs.
"We are optimistic that state legislators will maintain the PLF at 1.7 percent," Wilson said adding that she has spoken with local lawmakers, including Rep. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, and Sen. Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton.
Oelslager, Wilson said, has been visiting Stark County residents to see firsthand how important libraries are to area residents.
Stark County District Library receives about $7.1 million from the state but would see a reduction of about $275,000 beginning July 1, Wilson said.
That equates to more than 18,000 books or about 200 bikes for the community BikeShare program; more than 14,000 e-books; more than 10 staff members; about 4,5000 e-readers, air quality monitors and vehicle diagnostic code readers; 100,000 gallons of fuel to power the two kidmobiles, two bookmobiles, two senior vans and two delivery vehicles that visit schools, day cares and senior centers; and the SPARK program that helps to prepare about 700 Stark County 4-year-olds for kindergarten.
Federal cuts
Compounding the problem are proposed cuts in federal funding, including the elimination of The Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The State Library of Ohio receives about $5 million each year from Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the IMLS. Without that funding, many programs and services offered at the local level would be reduced or eliminated or local libraries might have to share in the cost to keep the programs up and running.
According to the State Library, if LSTA dollars were no longer available, local libraries could see many databases and resources unavailable, Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled services curtailed and no subsidies for summer reading program materials. In addition, libraries would have to pay a portion of a yearly software maintenance to maintain the Ohio Digital Library and competitive grants would no longer exist.
"All of this is going to trickle down to Ohio libraries," Brown said. "That's how our online databases are funded ... . If the state library doesn't get that funding those costs are going to trickle down to us or it might be eliminated."
Brown is encouraging library supporters to reach out to state and federal lawmakers and ask them to continue funding for libraries so that libraries can continue to provide services.
Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.
On Twitter: aknappINDE