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Save Ohio Library Funding

Tell the Ohio House: Don’t Cut Ohio Libraries!

This message is a departure from our usual communications to you, our valued patrons and Library supporters. Ohio’s libraries are facing an unprecedented challenge in the Ohio House of Representatives, and we need your help.

Contact your state representatives and Speaker Matt Huffman TODAY. Tell them to restore the Public Library Fund to the amount designated in the Governor’s proposed budget and share how the library has impacted you and your family.

How will the House’s version of the budget impact Ohio?

  • The Ohio House of Representatives’ biennium budget proposal eliminates the Public Library Fund, a system that has funded public libraries for four decades.
  • Ohio House Members plan to replace the Public Library Fund with a lump dollar amount for all Ohio libraries, which will result in cuts to libraries across the state, including Geauga County libraries.
  • 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. 

    • Here in Geauga County, the Public Library Fund makes 33% of all Library operations possible.

    FAQ: Ohio Public Library Funding

    Library administration has learned that some patrons who have contacted their Representatives in the Ohio House have been receiving responses stating that their budget bill increases funding to Ohio Public Libraries.

    This is not true.

    How are Ohio Public Libraries currently funded?

    Currently, public libraries in Ohio receive funding through the Public Library Fund (PLF). Each month, the PLF receives 1.7% of the state’s General Revenue Fund.

    Does the budget introduced in the Ohio House increase funding to public libraries?

    The House’s version of the budget would reduce state funding for Ohio’s public libraries by more than $100 million over the next two years as compared to the Governor’s proposal. In addition, the new distribution formula would cut funding to public libraries in 39 counties on July 1.

    It is important to note that Ohio public libraries received $27 million less in 2024 than in 2023.

    Public library funding has not kept up with inflation. The House’s proposed budget for 2026 is the same amount of funding that public libraries received 25 years ago. In the year 2000, libraries received $484.1 million.

    Do Ohio public libraries receive more state funding than every other state?

    In Ohio, unlike other states, public libraries operate independently from city or county governments. This means we must pay our own costs for building maintenance, human resources, legal needs, utilities, and other necessities. Ohio public libraries need funding for these expenses in addition to all of the library-specific resources and services we provide to the community.

    Do Ohio’s public libraries play an important role in our communities?

    For every $1 received by public libraries, Ohioans receive $5 in library services.

    Ohio public libraries provide free access to physical and digital items, genealogy and reference resources, meeting room spaces, makerspace equipment, summer reading programs, storytimes for early literacy, assistance to job seekers, and countless other resources.

    Ohio’s public libraries are extremely popular, with over 7.4 million cardholders and one of the highest library usage rates in the nation.

    How to Help

    If you want your tax dollars to come back from Columbus to support YOUR library system, contact your Geauga County House member: Sarah Fowler Arthur (District 99) or Steve Demetriou (District 35), as well as House Speaker Matt Huffman.

    Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur (District 99)

    Contact Form: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/sarah-fowler-arthur/contact

    Email: rep99@ohiohouse.gov

    Phone: (614) 466-1405

    Representative Steve Demetriou (District 35)

    Contact Form: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/steve-demetriou/contact

    Email: rep35@ohiohouse.gov

    Phone: (614) 644-5088

    House Speaker Matt Huffman

    Email: rep78@ohiohouse.gov

    Phone: (614) 466-6344

    Save Ohio Library Funding

    Tell the Ohio House: Don’t Cut Ohio Libraries!

    This message is a departure from our usual communications to you, our valued patrons and Library supporters. Ohio’s libraries are facing an unprecedented challenge in the Ohio House of Representatives, and we need your help.

    Contact your state representatives and Speaker Matt Huffman TODAY. Tell them to restore the Public Library Fund to the amount designated in the Governor’s proposed budget and share how the library has impacted you and your family.

    How will the House’s version of the budget impact Ohio?

  • The Ohio House of Representatives’ biennium budget proposal eliminates the Public Library Fund, a system that has funded public libraries for four decades.
  • Ohio House Members plan to replace the Public Library Fund with a lump dollar amount for all Ohio libraries, which will result in cuts to libraries across the state, including Geauga County libraries.
  • 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. 

    • Here in Geauga County, the Public Library Fund makes 33% of all Library operations possible.

    FAQ: Ohio Public Library Funding

    Library administration has learned that some patrons who have contacted their Representatives in the Ohio House have been receiving responses stating that their budget bill increases funding to Ohio Public Libraries.

    This is not true.

    How are Ohio Public Libraries currently funded?

    Currently, public libraries in Ohio receive funding through the Public Library Fund (PLF). Each month, the PLF receives 1.7% of the state’s General Revenue Fund.

    Does the budget introduced in the Ohio House increase funding to public libraries?

    The House’s version of the budget would reduce state funding for Ohio’s public libraries by more than $100 million over the next two years as compared to the Governor’s proposal. In addition, the new distribution formula would cut funding to public libraries in 39 counties on July 1.

    It is important to note that Ohio public libraries received $27 million less in 2024 than in 2023.

    Public library funding has not kept up with inflation. The House’s proposed budget for 2026 is the same amount of funding that public libraries received 25 years ago. In the year 2000, libraries received $484.1 million.

    Do Ohio public libraries receive more state funding than every other state?

    In Ohio, unlike other states, public libraries operate independently from city or county governments. This means we must pay our own costs for building maintenance, human resources, legal needs, utilities, and other necessities. Ohio public libraries need funding for these expenses in addition to all of the library-specific resources and services we provide to the community.

    Do Ohio’s public libraries play an important role in our communities?

    For every $1 received by public libraries, Ohioans receive $5 in library services.

    Ohio public libraries provide free access to physical and digital items, genealogy and reference resources, meeting room spaces, makerspace equipment, summer reading programs, storytimes for early literacy, assistance to job seekers, and countless other resources.

    Ohio’s public libraries are extremely popular, with over 7.4 million cardholders and one of the highest library usage rates in the nation.

    How to Help

    If you want your tax dollars to come back from Columbus to support YOUR library system, contact your Geauga County House member: Sarah Fowler Arthur (District 99) or Steve Demetriou (District 35), as well as House Speaker Matt Huffman.

    Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur (District 99)

    Contact Form: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/sarah-fowler-arthur/contact

    Email: rep99@ohiohouse.gov

    Phone: (614) 466-1405

    Representative Steve Demetriou (District 35)

    Contact Form: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/steve-demetriou/contact

    Email: rep35@ohiohouse.gov

    Phone: (614) 644-5088

    House Speaker Matt Huffman

    Email: rep78@ohiohouse.gov

    Phone: (614) 466-6344

    Save Ohio Library Funding

    Tell the Ohio House: Don’t Cut Ohio Libraries!

    This message is a departure from our usual communications to you, our valued patrons and Library supporters. Ohio’s libraries are facing an unprecedented challenge in the Ohio House of Representatives, and we need your help.

    Contact your state representatives and Speaker Matt Huffman TODAY. Tell them to restore the Public Library Fund to the amount designated in the Governor’s proposed budget and share how the library has impacted you and your family.

    How will the House’s version of the budget impact Ohio?

  • The Ohio House of Representatives’ biennium budget proposal eliminates the Public Library Fund, a system that has funded public libraries for four decades.
  • Ohio House Members plan to replace the Public Library Fund with a lump dollar amount for all Ohio libraries, which will result in cuts to libraries across the state, including Geauga County libraries.
  • 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. 

    • Here in Geauga County, the Public Library Fund makes 33% of all Library operations possible.

    FAQ: Ohio Public Library Funding

    Library administration has learned that some patrons who have contacted their Representatives in the Ohio House have been receiving responses stating that their budget bill increases funding to Ohio Public Libraries.

    This is not true.

    How are Ohio Public Libraries currently funded?

    Currently, public libraries in Ohio receive funding through the Public Library Fund (PLF). Each month, the PLF receives 1.7% of the state’s General Revenue Fund.

    Does the budget introduced in the Ohio House increase funding to public libraries?

    The House’s version of the budget would reduce state funding for Ohio’s public libraries by more than $100 million over the next two years as compared to the Governor’s proposal. In addition, the new distribution formula would cut funding to public libraries in 39 counties on July 1.

    It is important to note that Ohio public libraries received $27 million less in 2024 than in 2023.

    Public library funding has not kept up with inflation. The House’s proposed budget for 2026 is the same amount of funding that public libraries received 25 years ago. In the year 2000, libraries received $484.1 million.

    Do Ohio public libraries receive more state funding than every other state?

    In Ohio, unlike other states, public libraries operate independently from city or county governments. This means we must pay our own costs for building maintenance, human resources, legal needs, utilities, and other necessities. Ohio public libraries need funding for these expenses in addition to all of the library-specific resources and services we provide to the community.

    Do Ohio’s public libraries play an important role in our communities?

    For every $1 received by public libraries, Ohioans receive $5 in library services.

    Ohio public libraries provide free access to physical and digital items, genealogy and reference resources, meeting room spaces, makerspace equipment, summer reading programs, storytimes for early literacy, assistance to job seekers, and countless other resources.

    Ohio’s public libraries are extremely popular, with over 7.4 million cardholders and one of the highest library usage rates in the nation.

    How to Help

    If you want your tax dollars to come back from Columbus to support YOUR library system, contact your Geauga County House member: Sarah Fowler Arthur (District 99) or Steve Demetriou (District 35), as well as House Speaker Matt Huffman.

    Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur (District 99)

    Contact Form: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/sarah-fowler-arthur/contact

    Email: rep99@ohiohouse.gov

    Phone: (614) 466-1405

    Representative Steve Demetriou (District 35)

    Contact Form: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/steve-demetriou/contact

    Email: rep35@ohiohouse.gov

    Phone: (614) 644-5088

    House Speaker Matt Huffman

    Email: rep78@ohiohouse.gov

    Phone: (614) 466-6344