From the Director’s Office
In late June, the Ohio General Assembly approved the 2026–2027 state budget, which includes a significant change in how public libraries are funded. The Public Library Fund (PLF), which provides a third of Geauga County Public Library’s revenue, will no longer receive a fixed percentage of the state’s General Revenue Fund. Instead, library funding is now determined as a line-item appropriation in the state budget.
This change has resulted in a reduction in projected funding for public libraries across Ohio. For Geauga County Public Library, this means a decrease of more than $150,000 in anticipated revenue during the last six months of 2025, with a total reduction of at least $250,000 expected by the end of the current budget cycle on June 30, 2027.
To responsibly manage the decrease in funding while continuing to provide essential services to our community, we’ve made several difficult but necessary decisions:
— Lines & Links, this newsletter, will no longer be mailed to homes. However it will be available in print at all Geauga County Public Library locations and online.
— We’ve reduced budgets for programming supplies and staff training, areas that offer flexibility in our budget while not reducing our core services.
— Our hotspot lending program will conclude at the end of December.
— The Chardon Creativity Center Makerspace at Chardon High School will also close in December.
— We have reduced our subscription services for underutilized magazines, newspapers, and databases throughout the system.
— We closed on Sundays to reduce staffing costs in 2025.
These changes may be disappointing, and we wish we did not have to reduce library services. Please know that these decisions were made with consideration and a commitment to providing our core services to the community. Geauga County Public Library remains dedicated to engaging our community, connecting people to resources, and inspiring lifelong learning, all while continuing to provide excellent customer service and meaningful opportunities for connection and education. Thank you for your continued support of Geauga County Public Library.