My colleagues in Ohio's public libraries and I have been working frantically over the weekend and today to get the word out to our patrons: we need their help to stop Ohio's legislature from enacting the Governor's proposed budget cuts. The Governor wants to cut the budget for public libraries by 50%. About 70% of public libraries in Ohio are funded solely by this fund, so cutting the already shrinking budget means library closures, layoffs and cutbacks in hours and materials. Of the other 30% of Ohio libraries that do have some sort of local property tax levy (like mine), this will still mean that their budgets will drastically shrink. And he proposed this on Friday, the sneaky devil, knowing that would mean it gets buried for a couple of days. We have until June 30th to get our voices heard--because the budget goes into effect July 1--but actually we have to do something by THURSDAY June 25 when they get ready to vote. !!!! this is just heartbreaking. Our budget has been through downslides before, the last few years have been tough as we switched from receiving a percentage of income taxes to a percentage of the total state revenues, and with the state's economy going downhill there's less money to share. But now we're up against a brick wall, and it looks really bad. And the irony? LIBRARIES ARE USED MORE THAN EVER IN BAD ECONOMIC TIMES!! We provide free internet access, resume writing help, job fairs, computer classes, not to mention all of the free materials for lending and the programs for teens and kids. And summer reading programs have just begun! Many libraries will have to CLOSE this summer, it's a crime.

We have been sending out emergency emails and posting signs and contacting everyone we can think of, to let them know we have only a couple of days to contact our representatives and let them know how crummy this is. (And by a governor who claims to be on the side of education and the lower income population. Sigh.) If you're reading this and you're an Ohio resident, please please contact your representatives TODAY! We have more details on our library website: www.smfpl.org and more details on saveohiolibraries.com. Thank you!!!!