By Alexandra Sukin ’15, Contributor
This past summer, as a teen and a summer volunteer in the library’s summer reading program, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the vital role our local library plays in our community. Young children participated in the fun, games and activities provided by the library to enhance and promote the reading experience. They waited behind the counter, eyes wide with excitement, ready to receive their prize of the week. Older children visited the library as a free destination they could bike to and spend time with a friend or siblings. Adults often came to the library to use the internet and sometimes elderly adults just came to interact with others. The library serves as a destination for some people. For me and some of the other teens working as volunteers, it was our first work experience beyond babysitting in an environment which was safe and familiar.
Given the important and positive impact the library has had in my life and on many others, I was saddened to learn about the substantial budgetary pressures that the libraries in Ohio are facing. According to the Ohio Public Library Council (OPLC), “Over the last decade, state funding of public libraries has dropped by 30% – and almost 24% in just the past two years alone.” In order to respond to these budgetary limitations, libraries have eliminated services, shortened hours and reduced staffing along with other cost-cutting measures. The website for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County notes that in 2012 state funding of public libraries will decrease by 5.6% and the county tax levy which supplies almost all of the rest of the funding for the Hamilton County library system’s budget is anticipated to decrease by 9% or more due to changing property valuations. As the OPLC notes, these proposed budget cuts are occurring simultaneously with an increased need for the library services. The OPLC asserts that “More Ohioans than ever are turning to their public libraries for assistance with finding jobs, homework help, early literacy training, Internet access, computer training, and much more.”
In addition to providing services of proven value to community, there is evidence to suggest that ensuring adequate funding for public libraries is a smart economic decision and substantiation to support the contention that public libraries offer significant economic benefit to the communities in which they are located. An Executive Summary of a study performed by the four libraries serving Montgomery County, Ohio concludes “…that in return for the public investment these four libraries have delivered over $131.6 million in benefits” which the study asserts resulted in a return on investment of $3.69 per dollar spent. The study also lists a staggering array and extensive usage of library services by citizens.
The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is no exception to the upward trend in library utilization. Amy Banister, marketing and programming manager for the Hamilton County Library, explained that last year was a record for library usage which includes both circulation and program attendance. Kathy Kennedy-Brunner, a manager at the Madeira library branch, noted that there is an upsurge in library usage when the economy suffers. As Ms. Banister stated “we are stretched to the limit with what we can accomplish with the assets we have.” She went on to note that library is looking at ways to increase its economic efficiency.
Due to the essential services that Ohio libraries are providing and the economic value they generate, it is critical that we protect and increase library funding. This can be accomplished through communicating to our state representatives that library funding is an important priority and should not be viewed as an easy target for spending reductions. Ohio citizens should also be aware that local levies are now used to support libraries (in Hamilton County it accounts for roughly 30% of the library budget) and, for those students old enough to vote, they can demonstrate their commitment to vibrant libraries by voting in favor of library levies. I can think of no better example of the positive influence that government can have in people’s lives than providing a public library.
Perhaps the best, and hardest to quantify, reason to ensure ample funding for our public libraries is their ability to directly and tangibly improve the lives of people using them. This past spring I attended a teen poetry reading at the main branch of the Hamilton County library. It was an idyllic weekend day, perfect for hanging out in your backyard. The library teen center was filled with teens enjoying the air-conditioning, the snacks of fresh fruit, the tutoring help and each other’s company in a safe space where no adults (other than librarians) were allowed. This is just one small example of the positive contributions public libraries make in people’s lives and the benefits are immeasurable in dollars and cents.
Photo courtesy of 356cincinnati.com
