Library leaders say House budget plan is ‘devastating’ for Public Library Fund
DOVER – Local library leaders are joining those across the state in opposition to the Ohio House budget proposal that they say drastically alters state library funding.
Dover Public Library Director Jim Gill is among those asking residents to contact their state representatives in support of local libraries. The House budget plan eliminates the Public Library Fund which the Dover library relies on for 60 to 65 percent of its funding.
“The bottom line is Ohio (libraries) would be getting $100 million less than what they would be getting with the current arrangement,” Gill said.
The House budget replaces the Public Library Fund with a line item in the budget instead of a set percentage. Gov. Mike DeWine had proposed 1.75 percent.
Gill says it’s too early in the budget process to pin down how much the Dover library would be impacted. However, he says changing the funding to a line item leaves a lot of uncertainty. It leaves library funding “susceptible to cuts depending on who’s in power,” when libraries are “non-political and free and open to all.”
Gill is asking library supporters to contact Salvo and House Speaker Matt Huffman.
“We want them to know how the library impacts (community members) personally and it impacts the community. That is the ask: Save the PLF (Public Library Fund) and share your story about what the public library means to you and how it has changed your life.”
Salvo is planning to visit the Dover Library on Saturday, April 12, at 9 a.m.