Become Strong Advocates for our Libraries

Ohio Libraries, Fall 2004 by Adkins, Thomas

Libraries once relied on capital campaigns and fundraisers to augment their budgets only for special projects such as building a new branch or acquiring innovative technology. The Library and Local Government Support Fund (LLGSF), supported by 5.7% of Ohio's personal income tax, hasn't seen growth since 1999, and more than 78% of Ohio's public libraries depend almost entirely on these funds. This has forced most libraries to look for alternative ways to fund even their daily operations.

This issue of Ohio Libraries focuses on alternative funding methods for public libraries. My library benefits from one such revenue source, namely lease income from the First National Bank of Waverly.

When the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library began construction of our Western Branch Library, the economy in Ohio began to decline, and the state legislature first floated the idea of eliminating the LLGSF, ultimately freezing/reducing the fund in the final budget. Unfortunately for us, we had already signed the contracts for construction, so there was really no going back on plans for the facility.

I approached Robert Foster, President of First National Bank (FNB), our one locally-owned bank which has branches in virtually every area of Pike County with the exception of the western portion, where our new branch was being built. We had a small foyer area available, and I asked Mr. Foster if the bank might be interested in leasing the space from us for a branch there. He took it to the bank's board of directors, who readily agreed to the plan.

The library provides the space and pays utilities (except Internet and telephone for the bank), and the bank provides staff and furnishings, and pays the library monthly rent. This dollar amount more than pays for all the utilities of the branch for the year, which helps reduce our costs of running the new facility. And the bank is pleased to have a presence in the western portion of the county (in fact, FNB now serves all the local businesses; formerly they went to Bainbridge in neighboring Ross County for their banking needs), and the library benefits from the extra revenue stream.

But I would like to make one important point before I close. In August, I attended the 2004 Diversity Conference in Columbus. It had many great speakers and sessions, but the one session that sticks out for me was José Aponte, Director of the Pike's Peak Library, whose opening address was entitled "Running With the Elephants." He is a strong advocate for librarians to become involved in their communities, and in their local governments, and to fight alongside the "elephants" like fire and police departments who also benefit from tax dollars, to ensure that our libraries are funded at adequate levels.

It is imperative that we follow the advice of José Aponte and become strong advocates for our libraries, particularly in regard to the LLGSF. Talk with your local government officials. When OLC asks for letters and calls to be made to your state legislators, make those calls. Inform your patrons of issues relating to cuts to library funding, and encourage them to contact legislators in support of the LLGSF. If Ohio's public libraries are going to remain the best in the nation, we must maintain our state funding for those libraries.

BY THOMAS ADKINS

DIRECTOR, GARNET A. WILSON PUBLIC LIBRARY OF PIKE COUNTY AND PRESIDENT, OLC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Thomas Adkins is Director of the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library of Pike County in Waverly. He can be contacted at (740) 947-4921 or dirgaw@oplin.org.