Ohio Budget Vote Target of Protest
LOVELAND, OHIO – Impassioned, moms and dads, grandparents, teachers, writers, book lovers, and children answered the call on Wednesday to rally at the Loveland Library. The rally cry: "Save our Library." A state budget that Governor Strickland has proposed, will cut 50% of Public Library Funding. The budget is scheduled for a vote early next week.
The crowd was urged to immediately contact leaders in Columbus to express their concerns.
Warren McClellan, a former Loveland Intermediate School principal said that upon his retirement, he set a goal for himself to read 1,000 books. He was at the rally with his grandson and said many of the books already on his list are children's books from the Loveland Library that he reads to his grandchildren.
Mary Rose Stiver is a retired Loveland elementary school teacher. She said that she remembers well - taking children from the school across the street to the Loveland Library. She described the excitement of the children when they received their first library card and carried their first library books back across the street returning to their class room. “I'm really disappointed in Governor Strickland that he would take funds from the library – something that older people, younger people need these days.” Stiver said that her tax money wasn't going to the things that she thinks it should go to. “I am very upset.”
“Do you know what it means for a six-year-old to get their first library card? They treasured that. Took care of the books. Coming here will be something they will always be proud of. And, I'm a senior citizen - I come here to read the papers, magazines. I come here to read everything.”
Laurie Smith grew up in Loveland and graduated from Loveland High School. She is an Athletic Trainer by profession, but a stay at home mom now. She was at the rally with her neighbor and all of their children. “I grew up in Loveland and obviously used the library as a student, but now as a parent, I come to the library, sometimes on a weekly basis, and use a lot of the programs and services they provide for children. Smith said she got her first library card on the trips her class took across the street to the Loveland Library, and said that this morning she was thinking about the summer reading programs. “That was really cool for my brother and I during the summer.” She also said she remember the “story times.”
Kelly Kennedy-Hardy nows lives in Falls Church Virginia, but is back home in Loveland for a visit. Kennedy-Hardy worked at the Loveland Branch as a teen in the early '90's. She said her mother and all of her brothers and sisters have also worked at the Loveland branch.
“It was great. We got to work with a lot of kids you wouldn't normally get to know in school, and the adults were great because they were used to having all of the kids around. She said it was a good place to learn how to work and be a good employee. My mom always took us to the library, and we'd get lots of books – we read all through our growing up. Now I walk into the libraries in Washington D.C. And they are nothing like they are here. None of the libraries compare to this library at all. I come back to the library all the time, when I am here to visit.”
According to Phyllis Hegner, Community Relations Manager for the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, if library funding is cut, as early as September, the Cincinnati area could see, up to 20 of 40 branch libraries closed, “Dramatic” reduction in Main Library hours, 250 jobs lost, computer access reduced by over 30%, fewer new materials available, elimination of services to residents of all ages, fewer children's programs, and less qualified staff.
Read a statement on how Ohio's libraries are funded and cuts already made by the Cincinnati and Hamilton County system.
Click for information on contacting the State office holders. You can call or email your objections to the Governor and six members of the Conference Committee as well as your legislators. The budget decision must be made by June 30.
