Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Soldier on leave dies after shooting near UA
Man breaks into house, flees when owner wakes up
Theft, fraud allegations leave family in turmoil
Cavs to negotiate for Ilgauskas' return
Teen accused of drinking, dancing topless in club
Intoxicated, suicidal educator apprehended after chilling drive in park
Irish eyes smiling on Falls newlyweds
Barberton man hit by vehicle after fight dies
Blogs:
Akron Docs in Haiti:
Almost home
First Bell - On Education:
Strange, sad story from Canton
Pets:
Found: White Eskimo male dog near Bath and State Rd.
The Heldenfiles:
Fess Parker, R.I.P.
Akron Zips:
Looking back on the season
Tribe Matters:
Cabrera says it’s time to play
Cleveland Browns:
Yates latest to re-sign
Balanced Ledger:
How times have changed?
Kent State Sports:
Kent State gears up for WNIT at Michigan
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Highlights from Wednesday’s Cavs-Pacers Game
Buckeye Blogging:
Bucks High Seed – Turner High Praise
Varsity Letters:
DII state semifinal: Walsh Jesuit loses to Hathaway Brown 53-48
All Da King's Men:
ObamaCare To Reduce Premiums By 3000% ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Why Republicans Are Acting So Crazy
Akron Law Café:
Does Capitalism Inspire "Moral Flexibility"?
Car Chase:
2010 CONCOURS SEASON IS UPON US
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Deals in Miami?!.
Sound Check:
Willie Nelson & Family coming to the Akron Civic Theatre May 11
See Jane Style:
Who Wore What – The Oscars
HRLite House:
Horses of Courses
Akron Gamer:
PlayStation's Move ups the interaction, fidelity
The shortsighted strategy of slashing libraries for savings
Published on Thursday, Jun 25, 2009
To help balance the next two-year budget, Ted Strickland's has proposed slashing $227 million in state funding for public libraries. The cut would amount to a loss of roughly half of the Public Library Fund, which offers a reliable source of revenue for library services across the state.
It is evident enough that Ohio's declining revenue makes it necessary to pare down expenses. The libraries are by no means the only targets, either, for dramatic budget cuts in the governor's framework. All the same, the size of the hit Strickland proposes that the libraries absorb is one more example of the bane of long-term development in the state: Legislators find it all too easy to whittle away investments in those elements that do not have high visibility but yield dividends over the long term, providing a crucial base for progress (for instance, early childhood education or preventive health care). Public libraries and the free and varied services they offer present all residents avenues to educate or entertain themselves in a way that few if any other institution can match.
For decades, state funding has ensured a basic revenue stream that Ohio's 750 or so main and branch libraries can rely on to maintain up-to-date collections and provide services relevant to the needs of local users. For about 70 percent of public libraries, especially those in rural counties, the library fund represents a major source of income. As library officials across the state are warning, the steep cut in state funding would mean dozens of libraries may have to close or drastically reduce staff, hours and services. Libraries already are struggling to cope with a 20 percent budget cut this year alone.
Library usage has increased the past decade. Low-income families, students and the unemployed especially benefit from the access to computers and information that otherwise would be out of their reach. Starving libraries of funds — and potentially narrowing access to many residents — is a penny-wise strategy in a severe economic downturn such as this.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Stow, OH
Posted 10:35 AM, 06/25/2009
This editorial begs the question: If not libraries, what? As a former public school teacher, I can fill pages with reasons to keep libraries open. I also know that the budget gap must be closed.
