Sunday, June 28, 2009

Save Ohio Libraries: Ohioans Protest Library Funding Cuts

Link to June 25 Columbus Dispatch article, "Hundreds protest library funding cuts".

Excerpt: Several hundred supporters of public libraries gathered outside the Statehouse at lunchtime today to protest cuts in state aid being proposed by Gov. Ted Strickland.

Advocates say the 30 percent reduction in funding on top of an earlier 20 percent cut will cause libraries to limit services and hours, and force some to close.

Among the messages advocates had for the governor: 8 million Ohioans have library cards, roughly about the same number as registered voters.

Late Friday, Strickland unveiled a plan to cut libraries' funding by $200 million over the next two years. The cut was part of a $2.4 billion reduction in state spending Strickland has proposed to help close a $3.2 billion shortfall in the upcoming two-year budget.

Since then, supporters of areas being cut have blitzed the governor's office and lawmakers with complaints via telephone and e-mail.

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