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Library follows trend of asking for tax levy

Neighboring libraries succeeded in November

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer Updated 12:33 AM Sunday, January 17, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Local library officials are hoping Clark County residents follow the trends of public library users in surrounding counties and pass in May an operational levy that officials are pursuing to generate $3 million annually.

Four of Clark’s neighboring counties — Greene, Montgomery, Madison and Miami — had new or renewal levies on the November ballot. All of them passed.

In fact, out of 37 levies and one bond issue put on the ballot for library funding statewide, 30 of the levies passed, said Mackenzie Betts, Ohio Library Council director of communications.

“It’s the most library levies we’ve seen on local ballots during a single (election),” Betts said.

It means that 47 percent, or 119 of the state’s 251 public library systems, are now supported with some kind of local levy.

Clark County Public Library trustees hope to add one more to that statistic. They voted unanimously this week to place an operational levy on the May ballot. If it passes, it will be the first time that the local library is funded by a levy.

The public library has one main branch downtown and four other locations — the Houston (South Charleston), Enon, Park and Southern Village branches, as well as a Bookmobile.

Heavy state budget cuts have affected libraries across the state. State funding has been frozen since 2002, Clark County Public Library Director Sally Rizer said at a recent meeting, and began a steep decline in 2008.

The library system received $4.8 million in state funding in 2008 and $3.9 million in 2009. It is projected to receive $3.4 million for 2010, Rizer said.

Through slashed programming, cut hours and furloughs, the library has managed to avoid layoffs, but Rizer believes the minimalistic approach is unfair to patrons.

A recession also puts libraries in the unique position of having less money and more consumers, Board of Trustees President Lucille Cronin.

“Funding has dropped 24 percent, but usage has gone up, 2 (percent) to 12 percent,” Cronin said.

A struggling economy means more people will be at the library, applying for jobs online and using other resources, she said.

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