Anonymous Patron writes “Libraries losing budget battle says Ohio libraries that got nowhere trying to head off funding cuts during House budget talks last month are about to hit the same brick wall in the Senate, say several Senate finance committee members.
From Oregon, Can we afford to care about library patrons? says Whichever camp you’re in, it shouldn’t be a surprise the county is looking for opportunities to step away from providing urban services to unincorporated areas. With ongoing budget problems, it has no choice.
From Massachusetts Local libraries struggle with budget cuts “I would be horrified to live in a town that doesn’t have a public library,” Steinka said. “And of course there is the history aspect in Franklin. It would be a shame to take any more hours than we have or take another hit.””
Budget cuts suck
but they do seem to be a fact of life these days. We can lament them til we’re blue in the face. However, I do think libraries could be doing more in regard to fundraising, especially looking into new or different ways to increase funding. What comes to mind is Steve Coffman’s approach, “What if you ran your library were like NPR”? webjunction
Ohio Representative L. George Distel said…
…on the air this morning on WFUN AM-Today that the Ohio budget proposal that went from the House to the Senate was voted against by him but did note that the slated cut to libraries was cut by half. I am not sure what he meant by that but I know he does not lie. Then again, he was on a radio show this morning and could not get too wonky…