Politics & Government

State Cuts Continue Downward Trend for Kent Library Budget

Libraries across the state were bracing for more than the 5 percent cut announced by Gov. Kasich

Public libraries across the state, including in Kent, can breathe a collective sigh of relief following  Ohio Gov. John Kasich's budget proposal announcement.

Kasich's 2012-2013 budget proposal calls for cutting state money to libraries by 5 percent.

The cut is yet another budget reduction piled on top of cuts in the past several years.

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But it's still a relief, as some were expecting cuts of 15 percent to 20 percent or more in state library money as part of Kasich's budget.

Kent Free Library Director Carmen Zampini said the actual individual dollar amount Kent's library will likely lose if Kaich's budget is approved isn't clear yet.

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"While any cuts will be difficult, this is certainly better news than it could have been," she said.

In 2010, Kent's library operated on a budget of about $1.4 million. Of that, about $1.2 million — or 93 percent — came from the state Public Library Fund. Last year's budget compares with the $1.5 million the library had to work with in 2009. In 2008, the library had slightly more than 2009 at $1.7 million. And in 2007, the library's budget was about $1.76 million.

Kent's library does not rely on a levy for operating funds, but a bond issue approved by voters last decade paid for the renovations completed in 2006.

Zampini said the ongoing state budget cuts in public library funds has not hit Kent as hard because the library already is keeping a close watch on expenses. In recent years, the library has saved money by not replacing some staff members who retire or leave for other positions.

The library has been able to save costs so far without a direct effect to patrons, such as cutting hours, Zampini said.

The Ohio Library Council reported this month that, in the past decade, state funding of public libraries has dropped by 30 percent — and almost 24 percent in just the past two years alone.

Until this March, tax distribution of the Ohio Public Library Fund had decreased every year starting in 2008, according to the OLC. Though the public library fund did see a slight increase this year, the library council does not expect that to continue under Kasich's budget.

Another element of library d0llars that are reduced slightly under Kasich's proposal is funding for the Ohio Public Library Information Network, which oversees Internet access for Ohio's public libraries.

In 2009, Kent's library saw 2,875 users per week logging onto the library's public computers to surf the Internet, according to the State Library of Ohio website.

While the OPLIN reduction amounts to a flat budget, Zampini said a large cut in the information network funding would have a direct effect on patrons.


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