This month, the Ohio House of Representatives had floated the idea to eliminate the Public Library Fund and give libraries less money compared to Governor DeWine’s proposed budget. That cut would have represented a $100 million cut to library funding and had no guarantee of funding after 2027.
A recent outpouring of support for libraries had state lawmakers reversing course recently. In fact, April 8 was Library Legislative Day at the Statehouse, where librarians and library supporters from all over the state met with legislators and advocated on behalf of Ohio’s public libraries. While the Public Library Fund will remain intact in the House’s proposed budget after this reversal, lawmakers will decide how much money to put into it, rather than have it remain a set percentage of the state's general revenues.
History of Public Library Funding
Ohio's public libraries have had a partnership with the state to deliver services at the local level for almost 100 years. Dating back to 1933, public libraries in Ohio were supported almost entirely from revenues from the intangible personal property tax, mainly individuals’ holdings of stocks and bonds.
This system of library finance, unique in the United States (only Hawaii has something similar), had several results. Some counties, because of large holdings of taxable intangible property or vigorous local tax enforcement efforts, realized great revenue. However, there were many areas of Ohio where public library service was virtually nonexistent.
In 1983, former Ohio governor Richard Celeste helped create what would eventually be called the Public Library Fund to provide a permanent money source. Ohio set up the fund and agreed on a formula to make sure small and large libraries received support, leading to a statewide network that ranks among the best in the country.
How Does This Impact You?
We rely on funding from the state’s Public Library Fund – 40 % of our budget – to support not just operations and capital investments, but the very books, library resources, programs and services our community relies on. This includes:
- Outreach initiatives such as visiting senior centers, preschool StoryTime, homeschool outreach, and Pop-Up libraries
- Ebooks, audiobooks, books, movies, magazines, and more
- Membership with SEO and resource sharing with libraries across Ohio
- Genealogy & Local History resources
- Programs such as the Summer Reading Program, Craft Party, the Taste Of series, Lunch Bunch, book clubs, and so many more
Eliminating the Public Library Fund and replacing it with the same level of funding libraries received a quarter of a century ago would have been a threat to all library programs, materials, and services.
While the House reversed course after backlash to the proposed elimination of the Public Library Fund, libraries across the state already saw a $27 million shortfall in state funding in 2024. Ohio’s libraries are currently funded at the same level we were in the year 2000 with no adjustment for inflation. Since then, our community has grown while the cost of library resources and services has increased, and we have evolved to serve our customers.
We’re proud to serve the Upper Sandusky community and are grateful for the support you show for our libraries.