Ohio’s Library Cuts to Devastate Children's/YA Services

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By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 6/29/2009 2:00:00 PM

Looming cuts to Ohio’s state budget threaten an already hobbled public library system, especially its teen and children’s services.

Library cuts have had an impact at story times at the Holmes County District Public Library.

After absorbing a 20 percent drop in income from the state for the first half of this year, Ohio’s public libraries now stand to lose an additional 30 percent if Governor Ted Strickland’s budget is passed by the legislature.

At the 20 percent level, libraries are already having difficulties making ends meet,” says Doug Evans, executive director of the Ohio Library Council, which represents Ohio’s public libraries. “With these proposed cuts, it has the potential to impact every public library in the state.”

The legislature yesterday voted to extend the current budget for seven days to continue negotiating the governor's budget bill.

Strickland’s cuts are meant to close Ohio's $3.2 billion budget gap without raising taxes on families and businesses—even though he’s acknowledged that the move would suspend some library services statewide.

However, public outcry to maintain library services has been immense, including support from the State Library of Ohio Board, which urged Strickland to halt any further cuts.

“We understand these are difficult times, but we know all libraries are being used even more than ever before,” says Jo Budler, Ohio’s state librarian. “We’re the safety net.”

Many of Ohio’s public libraries have already cut services to teens and children, from canceling teen after-school programs to reducing the number of hours branches remain open.

The Southwest Public Libraries in Grove City, OH, recently closed its jointly operated branch in Central Crossing High School for lack of funds. While the school library remains open during the day, the public library has removed access to its digital catalog, which students regularly used to research its more than three million items. “We’ve also cut about $200,000 in our materials budget,” says Amy Shaw, spokeswoman for Southwest Public Libraries, regarding its remaining branches. “And about one-third of that is for children and teens.”

Holmes County District Public Library eliminated its teen librarian position for budget reasons, dissolving its teen advisory board for middle and high school students and leaving local teens without special programs and events.

Kids at the Holmes County District Public Library.

“If we have to reduce by another 30 percent, it’s going to be devastating,” says Arlene Radden, director of the Holmes County District Public Library.

Even story times, which Holmes County used to divide by age group, have merged into just one for lack of personnel. “Trying to keep the attention of a two and a half year old and a five year old at the same time is difficult,” says Radden. “But we can’t offer them separately anymore because we just don’t have staffing.

Although Ohio’s libraries are facing constraints like other states, including Connecticut, librarians believe that library services are even more critical during financial downturns. Besides offering computer and job searching access for adults, parents rely on after-school events and summer programs for their children as they make difficult decisions on where to belt-tighten in their own homes.

“Also, teachers rely on public libraries to supplement their curriculum in the classrooms,” says Evans. “These budget cuts will have a ripple effect if they do move forward.”

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