Ted Strickland Vilified for Proposed Cuts to Ohio Public Libraries
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has been made public enemy number one to public libraries all across the Buckeye State after saying that he would slash library funding 50% percent in order to balance the state budget. A tidal wave of messages have greeted the Governor through email, phone calls, Twitter, and Facebook. In Cleveland, a rally was held at Cleveland Public Library which united the directors from area libraries and supporters at the front of the historic Main Library complex downtown. The overriding message was that library service is essential and that they will not go down without a fight.
The news is starting to gain national attention with stories published in Library Journal, and the American Library Association deriding the cuts. The ALA's President, Jim Rettig, said today:
“A projected 50 percent reduction in funding for Ohio’s libraries would result in unprecedented national disaster. We understand that in a recession difficult choices must be made, but libraries are part of the solution when a community is struggling economically, and are a necessity in efforts to get Americans back on their feet.
“From coast to coast, libraries have been first responders to the national economic crisis. They have been inundated by job seekers and users looking to better their lives through education. This also is the case in Ohio, as Ohioans are depending on their local libraries for free Internet access, employment services, personal finance resources, small business development and education and cultural programs.
“What will happen to the people of Ohio if their right to free access to information is taken away? The Governor’s drastic proposed library budget cuts are the largest in history and will impact more than 8 million registered library card holders. Every one of Ohio’s 251 public library systems could experience limited hours, program and staffing reductions or, worse yet, closures.
“Libraries are so much more than bricks and mortar. They are places where everyone - regardless of age, race or income - can come together, whether it’s for information, self-help or to find their place in the community.
“I encourage all Ohioans to contact the Governor’s office to express their opposition to his proposal to cut library funding and urge Ohio legislators to reject the Governor’s plan.”
According the reports, the Governors' office has fielded nearly 14,000 emails from angry constituents over the proposed cuts. His phone line seized operation on Monday because of the influx of calls. Strickland's Facebook page is constantly updated with angry remarks imploring him to change his mind, as they worry that their local branch would have to close its doors as a result of his budget proposal. Some angry library-lovers have even Photoshopped the Governor, going as far as depicting him as the devil.
It was made clear by Buckeye State residents that they are against the cuts to their beloved centers of learning. Hopefully state officials who are deciding the budget have the sense to find other areas to cut before killing these vital institutions.
Comments
Ted is way off on this one.
Ted is way off on this one. I can see a ten percent cut, but 50%? The people of Ohio enjoy their libraries, this is why we support them with our hard earned tax dollars. Ted better find some other areas to cut!
LIBRARIES
DEAR GOVERNOR STRICKLAND
PLEASE RECONSIDER YOUR THOUGHTS ON CUTTING FUNDS FOR OUR LIBRARIES. EVERYONE SPENDS TIME THERE INCLUDING CHILDREN, ADULTS AND THE RETIRED. THE ECONOMY IS BAD AND THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE ALL CAN SPEND TIME WITHOUT SPENDING MONEY. OUR DAUGHTER IS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND ALSO HAS A PART TIME JOB IN HER LIBRARY SYSTEM. SHE IS WORRIED ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE THAT SHE MAY BE CUT. THE CHILDREN SUFFER, TOO, NOW THAT SCHOOL IS OUT. THANK YOU..... MARY RHODES
Democratic?
Public libraries are perhaps the most democratic of all institutions. Let's hope the Democratic Party gets a real Democratic to trounce this guy in the next primary.
Library funding
Just when you need libraries the most, the cornerstone of an educated, democratic society, you are cutting them off. Not only are Ohio libraries vital to our state, but to many places around the world. The largest internet site for libraries to access bibliographic information is WORLDCAT at OCLC in Dublin, Ohio. Several million more from around the United States and around the world rely on OCLC for interlibrary loan services. Not only will the libraries themselves suffer, but the ciiizenry of Ohio will suffer. Please do not cut budgets by 52%. It would be a foolish mistake.
May I please?
May I have your permission to use these pix on my blog?
Feel free to....
Feel free to....
Thank you!
I'll post them today.
That comment about the 10% cut has me convinced...
This cut is too ridiculous to be serious. It reeks of social engineering.
Any cut, even a 5% cut, happening after what is already a 20% reduction in library budgets due to the shortage in tax revenue, would have been fought.
So how do you cut a budget where any reduction would be fought? You propose something obscene. 50%! Libraries all over Ohio would be closed, and the rest crushed. Generate the outrage. Then... you make a compromise. "We see how important libraries are to the people... we'll only cut... 10%!"
You get the cuts you'd *already* planned, but now people who were previously furious (who still lost, mind you...) feel that their outrage accomplished something. "We made a difference!" No... you were played like puppets and were put back in the box satisfied.
No different than gas prices. After getting jacked around at prices nearing $5 a gallon, how often do you hear someone upon seeing a pump at $2.80 say "hey, that's not a bad price!" (Hit them, btw.) Show them the worst, and the bar for what is considered acceptable moves with it.
Budget Cut
Why doesn't the govenor take a 50% reduction in his pay? Another solution is for all the elected state officials give back their raises and take a 50% reduction in pay. Many other employers have had to take back the raises that were already given to the hard working people. Now its the elected officials turn to do the same.
Strickland
Perfect example of a politican throwing the people to the dogs. Ohio's library system has been something I have always been proud of. It is one of the few government agencies that works like it is supposed to, doesn't infringe on anyones rights, beliefs, politics, gender etc and is avilable to EVERYONE. Strickland you are a fool. If he gets this propsal to pass, we ned to amke sure that next year he gets the message loud and clear. Great picture by the way!
In bad economic times things have to be cut
Making a cut to the funds that libraries get from the state is a neccesary evil due to the plight of the state. Most libraries are full of books that are not being read anyway. A lot of people use the internet instead of libraries. Cutting library budgets will make them more efficient and will force libraries to do things differently. Because of the state budget deficit, some things need to be cut. Libraries are not going to go away, but they will be forced to operate differently. I think in the long run this will be a good thing. Unfortunately, the biggest losers in this will be the people that will lose their job, which is happening in just about every industry across the country. I feel for those people, but forcing libraries to work with smaller budgets is a good idea. Why? Because holding books that no one is reading is very inefficient and upgrading to newer technology will make libraries more efficient and cost effective over the long term.
public library cuts
Why don't we just go back to the days when when people did not have the freedoms of reading and writing. Or have a right to have an education. The first step in getting an education in any life of an american child has always started by getting books from the public library. The public library is the best place for a child to start love reading. The public library has always had time for summer reading programs and storytime. Young children absolutely love those times. Not just the young children, but let's say an elder person that wants to keep their mind in tack and rides that bus to go get books at the public library. Does the Ohio govt. going to give that elder person a ride to Columbus public library when they decide to close all of the local branches in the small towns all over Ohio. Or how about that teenager that goes there to read books just to get away from home or gets on the internet and looks for a summer job. Is Ohio prepared when the public library close down and that same teenager gets arrested because they had no control over the public library closing. And that same teenager can not go home and they go to the library to stay out of trouble. Is Ohio govt. prepared to for the taxmoney that it is going to cost to have that same teenager to be put on trial for a crime that was committed just because he/she did not have a local branch of a public library to go to? There are so many variables that goes on with a public library. I have enjoyed reading that I have always took my child to the library three or four times a week. If the Ohio govt. wants to make some cuts, why is it the taxpayer that pays their salaries are the ones that have to suffer?
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