The Observation Deck

Governor Strickland has proposed a cut to the Public Library Fund of $112.5 million in fiscal year 2010 and $114.8 million in 2011. These massive cuts to Ohio’s public libraries are conceived as an element of his "framework" <http://www.gongwer-oh.com/128/framework.pdf> to fill the $3.2 billion gap in the budget that must be balanced by Ohio General Assembly's Conference Committee by June 30.

Lakewood Public Library depends on the Public Library Fund for approximately 50% of its funding. Under the Governor’s proposal, Lakewood Public Library would lose approximately $1.2 million of needed revenue each year.

A cut of such magnitude to Lakewood Public Library’s revenue stream would mean substantial reductions, including cuts to materials purchasing and programs, reduced hours, staff furloughs and lay-offs. With such a drastic reduction in funds, Madison Branch is also at stake.

There is no time to write letters. The state budget must be approved by June 30.

Please send a strong message: “Do not cut funding for Public Libraries.”

Governor Strickland 614 466-3555

Senator Dale Miller
Telephone: 614/466-5123
Email SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us.


State Representative Michael Skindell
Telephone: (614) 466-5921
Email: district13@ohr.state.oh.us

Thank you.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Just asking to be exempt from cuts is not likely to be successful.

I did notice that a lot of communities don't raise ANY property taxes to support their local libraries. They rely on the State to fund their entire library budget. The Cincinatti /Hamilton County library system doesn't provide ANY local funds for its libraries but receives nearly $50 million in State aid.

A compromise position might be a requirement for local systems to provide at least 50% of their funding needs with local property taxes. The State distributes nearly $189 million to library systems that provide NO local support. If those systems were required to provide at least 50% of their funding from local funds that would mean cuts of only $100 million or so.That's still a lot considering that the libraries haven't had any meaningful increases in their State funding in 7 years.

The Governors proposal is a good example of the government looking high and low for something to cut and finally deciding that they only thing than can do is cut the most needed, necessary, cost efficient and noticeable programs.

This is also a good example of how government policies rewards one behavior and punish es another. In this case communities that choose to tax themselves to support local services are asked to sacrifice more so that communities that sacrifice nothing continue to get a free ride.

I'll be giving Skindell a call but it is a waste of time. He has no interest in his district.

Bill:

Thank you for words and offer to call Representative Skindell, who has always been very solid on support for Lakewood Public Library and Ohio's public libraries.

Senator Dale Miller is a member of the Conference Committee, which will be making the key decision in this process. A call to Senator Miller and all the other members, for that matter, would be appreciated.

Conference Committee Members

House
Vernon Sykes- Akron area
Phone: 614- 466-3100
Fax: 614-719-6944
district44@ohr.state.oh.us

Jay Goyal- Mansfield area
Phone: 614-466-5802
Fax: 614-719-3973
district73@ohr.state.oh.us

Ron Amstutz- Wayne County area
Phone: 614-466-1474
Fax: 614-719-0003
district03@ohr.state.oh.us

Senate
Dale Miller- Cleveland area
Phone: 614-466-5123
SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us

John Carey- Wellston area
Phone: 614-466-8156
SD17@senate.state.oh.us

Mark Wagoner-
Phone: 614-466-8060
SD02@senate.state.oh.us
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Library supporters are also registering support on the Governor’s Facebook page.
See: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ted-Stric ... 9256549800

It's worth a look.

Finally, Bill, though I like your point about local commitments in relationship to state funding, I am afraid that such an approach flies in the face of the prevailing political winds and interests.

If you are interested in applying critical pressure to the ideologies and interests nested in Columbus, which are at odds with local control and power over public good assets, I offer a complex musical riddle and speculative question.

At the 21st century political interest dance of de-industrialization Cannibal and the Head-Hunters spin “Land of 1000 Taxes” while ‘starve the government beast’ conservatives, libertarians and public good privatizers do the hustle bump with organized labor, which is looking to enfold local outliers. Net result will be a continual push to reduce the number and power of local government entities.

How in a fiscal crisis might serving up independent public libraries (ever the low-hanging fruit for the would-be opportunists) pave the way for forced consolidations and mergers based on the vapid political promise that by doing so Ohio’s on the way to a newly competitive post-industrial prosperity?

Who benefits?

Thank you again for your interest and support.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Kenneth Warren wrote:Finally, Bill, though I like your point about local commitments in relationship to state funding, I am afraid that such an approach flies in the face of the prevailing political winds and interests. ................

At the 21st century political interest dance of de-industrialization Cannibal and the Head-Hunters spin “Land of 1000 Taxes” while ‘starve the government beast’ conservatives, libertarians and public good privatizers do the hustle bump with organized labor, which is looking to enfold local outliers. Net result will be a continual push to reduce the number and power of local government entities.

Although I think it a good idea, pigs will fly before the State links a local commitment to library funding to State funding for libraries. Such a policy would increase local control and local interest in the local community. That's the last thing they want.

You raise an interesting point about the library defunding efforts relationship to the States efforts to eliminate home rule. It is part of a pattern.

Our current regional government, Cuyahoga County, is a bloated, corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy. The Plain Dealer is currently engaged in campaign to conviince us that the solution to that albatross is another albatross.

Taxes at all levels are higher than ever before yet we are told that we can no longer afford libraries.

libraries can save money by removing the public world wide web computers. restrict them to the local area databases and subscription databases. the www computers bring too many punks and streetards into the library. Or, the can charge a 5 dollar an hour deposit and 2 dollar an hour fee to use them. i guess keeping the wifi signal is okay.

Kenneth Warren wrote:There is no time to write letters. The state budget must be approved by June 30.

Please send a strong message: “Do not cut funding for Public Libraries.”

Governor Strickland 614 466-3555

Senator Dale Miller
Telephone: 614/466-5123
Email SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us.


State Representative Michael Skindell
Telephone: (614) 466-5921
Email: district13@ohr.state.oh.us

Thank you.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Ken,

As per your instructions, I made all three calls yesterday. An extremely low investment of time and effort for such an important cause.

Thanks for the heads up.

Steve

.

[quote="ryan costa"]libraries can save money by removing the public world wide web computers. restrict them to the local area databases and subscription databases. the www computers bring too many punks and streetards into the library. Or, the can charge a 5 dollar an hour deposit and 2 dollar an hour fee to use them. i guess keeping the wifi signal is okay.[/quote]
We have our share of undesireables at the library, but nerfing the computers as you suggest is not going to keep them out. What you are suggesting would cripple our numbers and flies in the face of it being a "public" library. Let's also consider the number of people that come in because they need to use a computer for legitimate reasons. Job seekers emailing resumes. Immigrants who communicate with friends and family in "the old country."

The library tried a limited network once. There's a large wireless antenna on top of the Madison Branch roof that was supposed to service the entire Madison Park. Anyone using it was limited in what they could access and I don't think anyone used it. I believe it has since been dismantled.

Why not suggest charging a fee to GET a card, or a membership fee charged every year?? You'd get a lot more money.

Concerning the topic at hand: I have emailed a couple times and I have been passing out the fliers, making sure library patrons are aware of the situation.

Save Our Library Rally


Lakewood Library Director Kenneth Warren speaks to the massive crowd at
the "Save Our Libraries" Rally at the Cleveland Public Library. Ken was introduced
as the "great library director from Lakewood Ohio."


Ken explains the problems ahead and why we need strong libraries with great direction
and funding now more than ever. The applause was deafening.


After the meeting Ken is sought out by three well known authors that attended
the event.


Ken leads a group of county library directors to a planning session on what to do
next. The amount of respect they all showed Ken was touching.


LO Exclusive! This closed session invited the LO in to record. Here they were planning
the next week of events, and how to handle this crisis.


As Kenneth Warren leaves the meeting with a heavy heart. The Rocky River director
of the library asked, "Ken, did you ever think you last week would be like this? Do y
ou think your board is up to the task?" Ken looks down, as the director asks, "Why do
you wear a dead white daisy?" With that Ken looked up with a twinkle is his eye, and
said, "It is like a good luck trophy. Just ask LPL."

More photos at:http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/save-our-library-rally-062409