Proposed budget cuts put these at risk. Libraries are a major asset in encouraging new, technologically-based businesses to locate in Ohio communities and to help grow the Ohio economy. Business owners look for strong libraries to support their business information needs and to offer strong library collections and services to their employees and their families. At the public library, Ohioans search for jobs and access the services of Ohio government. A funding shortfall will place these services at risk and reduce the libraries ability to positively impact our economy.
Libraries are an essential part of Ohio s educational offerings.
Public libraries assist students with research, make classroom collections available to teachers, and partner with schools to provide OhioReads programs. Many of the books that Ohio reads come from the public library. In fact, teachers and students from Ohio s public and private schools and home school families are all heavy users of libraries. Negative impacts on funding for Ohio s libraries will negatively impact education in Ohio Ohio citizens appreciate the difficult job the Legislature and our Governor are trying to do hold the line on taxes, deal with a downturn in the economy and state revenues, and improve funding for education. Our General Assembly is looking for ways to make promises in the area of education.