Take a look, it’s in a book! 📖 Anyone out there remember the Pizza Hut BOOK IT program? Nothing tasted better than a personal pan pizza after finishing the latest Babysitter’s Club. 😋🍕
Ohio’s libraries aren’t just where you go to pick up a good read. They’re also community hubs that provide job assistance and free internet access. 🧑💻 That’s why the current funding issues are worth paying attention to! 👀
Here’s Five Fast Facts on funding for Ohio’s libraries:
- 💰 Funds, Hun - Libraries in the Buckeye State depend on funding from the Public Library Fund. This state-subsidized account collects 1.7% of the general revenue fund and distributes it to public libraries. Each month, library systems monitor state tax receipts to predict whether their funding rises or falls. Numbers have been trending downward and still haven’t recovered from recession-based losses in 2009.
- ⏳ Way Back When - Back in 2008, the Public Library Fund reached $450.6 million, but it’s been dropping ever since. The biggest decrease happened in 2012 when it dropped almost 24% under the 2008 number.
- 📉 Downward Spiral - By 2022, the Public Library Fund fell to $208.5 million. It fell again in 2023 down to $205.2 million. According to the Ohio Library Council, it’s expected to fall again in 2024 to roughly $187.5 million.
- 💵 Drove My Chevy to the Levy - To help keep things afloat, libraries also depend on property tax levies. Twenty years ago in 2004, just 74 of the 251 libraries reported levies on the books. In 2024, 203 libraries depend on levies for funding.
- 🤔 Thinking Cap - If funding from the state continues to trend downward, libraries will have to get creative. Solutions may be scaling back operating hours, putting off maintenance, and alternative book purchasing methods. They also may put a pause on any expansion efforts.
🔥Bottom line: The good news is that library levies are on the rise, which could help offset some of the lack of funding overall. If you’re a library-goer, make sure to thank your librarians for their service! Are you a doom spender? Find out here. If you are, perhaps you can curb your bad habits by borrowing a mystery novel instead!
When’s the last time you visited your local library?
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