Funding for Ohio libraries at risk of being slashed. Stark libraries need support | Opinion

• The House Finance Committee accepted an amendment a few days ago that eliminates the Public Library Fund, representing a $100 million cut to library funding.
• Stark County communities have grown while the costs of library resources and services have increased and the libraries have evolved to serve customers.
• Stark County library directors are encouraging community members to contact their state representatives to reverse the decision.

Ohio’s libraries urgently need your help. This includes the seven phenomenal public libraries that serve Stark County: Stark Library (with ten locations across the county), Massillon Public Library (with three locations), North Canton Public Library, Rodman Public Library (with two locations), Louisville Public Library, Canal Fulton Public Library and Minerva Public Library.  

The Ohio House of Representatives is currently working on the state budget for the next two years. The House Finance Committee accepted an amendment a few days ago that eliminates the Public Library Fund and replaces it with a line-item appropriation, representing a $100 million cut to library funding compared to Gov. Mike DeWine’s budget. 

The unprecedented elimination of the Public Library Fund comes at a time when 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 they were in the year 2000 with no adjustment for inflation. Since then, our Stark County communities have grown while the costs of library resources and services have increased and we have evolved to serve our customers. 

Stark County libraries rely on funding from the state’s Public Library Fund to support not just operations and capital investments, but also the very books, library resources, programs and services our community relies on. This includes:

• Stark Library’s Summer Fun School program provided at housing complexes, camps, and enrichment sites that drew 5,600 kids last year.
• The Massillon Public Library’s Bookmobile service that includes 55 stops and reaches 1,000 patrons per month in its service area.
• The North Canton Public Library’s senior programming at the North Canton Civic Center that averages attendances of 400+ per month.
• The Rodman Public Library’s annual One Book, One Community event that unites Alliance residents and its school districts with a featured book and author visit.
• The Louisville Public Library’s completion of a brand new building at no additional taxpayer expense.
• Canal Fulton Public Library’s digital collection that saw over 28,000 checkouts in 2024 alone.
• Minerva Public Library’s significant cooperative relationship with its school district, illustrated in the 500 elementary class visits its staff made over the course of last year.

Eliminating the Public Library Fund and replacing it with the same level of funding libraries received a quarter of a century ago is a threat to all library programs, materials and services – including the ones listed above.  

You can help by contacting your state representative and House Speaker Matt Huffman before Wednesday. Tell them to restore the Public Library Fund to the amount designated in the governor’s proposed budget, and share how important the library is to you and your family and how a cut to libraries would impact you and your neighbors. 

You can find your state representative’s phone number and email by searching your home address at www.ohiohouse.gov. Huffman can be reached at rep78@ohiohouse.gov or 614-466-6344. 

We know we serve a dedicated, library-loving community here in Stark County, and we have full faith that you will support us as we fight to maintain funding that will allow us to continue to serve you, your family and your neighbors. All our libraries have so many great ideas and so many life-changing services we want to offer, but we need stable funding to continue to serve you. Please, let your voices be heard so that lawmakers know how much Stark County loves its libraries. We can’t do this without you.  

This op-ed was written by Jason Bumbico, director of Minerva Public Library; Brock Hutchison, director of the Louisville Public Library; Mary Ellen Icaza, CEO and executive director of Stark Library; Jeff Kreger, director of Massillon Public Library; Andrea Legg, director of North Canton Public Library; Cathy Morgan, director of Canal Fulton Public Library; and Eric Taggart, director of Rodman Public Library.