March 16, 2010
The Westin
310 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
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Registration is closed. Please contact OLC (614) 410-8092 for information.
Legislative Day Materials -- PLEASE BRING COPIES*
Library trustees, staff, and Friends are invited to attend the Ohio Library Council's Legislative Day 2010 on March 16 at the Westin Hotel. This Legislative Day is focused on updating our legislators on how this budget has impacted the libraries in their district.
There is no question that these are the most challenging times facing Ohio's public libraries. In Ohio, we have spent the past two decades working to build the nation's best public library system. The foundation of the success of our libraries has been the local control of public libraries by local boards of trustees, paired with the state funding of the systems. This has meant that our libraries are responsive to the needs of the community, without being hampered by the vagaries of local politics and economics. In Ohio, we provide a high level of library service to ALL of our citizens, not just those who live in affluent communities.
Since 2002, the state's economic commitment to public libraries has eroded. This has been a direct result of the state's economy. You all know this. You all have had to make the hard decisions at your library. Many of you have cut staff, cut hours, cut collections, cut branches, and cut programs. Many more of you have had to pass local property tax levies to try and make up some of the state money you have lost.
This Legislative Day is also about getting ready for the next biennium budget. The next state budget will be introduced months before we return for OLC Legislative Day 2011, and projections for that biennium budget are already discouraging.
