Libraries need to toot their own horn

FINDLAY — Evan Struble said it's time to get more vocal about cuts to library funding. "Things are moving and shaking at a rapid pace, especially at the federal level," according to Struble, who is the associate state librarian for library development with the State Library of Ohio. "Something that I learn on Monday is different on Wednesday and different again on Friday." He told members of the Kiwanis Club of Findlay that the current federal administration is attempting to dismantle the Institute for Museum and Library Services that would fund about half of State Library's budget. "It has not happened yet. There's a lot of steps as you know in the budgetary process at the federal level," said Struble. There are also two lawsuits working their way through the federal court system to try and prevent that from happening as well, he said. The U.S. Senate and House will continue to debate their versions of the budget before it goes to a subcommittee "where they kind of duke it out to get to a budget that's compromise of some sort," Struble said. But state funding for Ohio's public libraries was thrown a curveball this year, he said. "Traditionally public libraries were funded out of a set percentage of the General Revenue Fund, and that was called the Public Library Fund," he said. It fluctuated a bit here and there, he said. "They decided at some point they wanted to call the Public Library Fund a fixed line item with a fixed dollar amount for the next two years, and that's where libraries landed," he explained. "Unfortunately, those dollar amounts that they set for the new Public Library Fund which is a line item is less than what libraries got when it was a percentage of the General Revenue Fund." What that means, he said, is that every library across the state are going to be weathering cuts of some sort. There's going to be a lot of conversations about the topic over the next six months as well as at the State Library Convention in November. Kiwanian Sarah Clevidence, director of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, said they just completed Fiscal Year '25 which was based on the percentage rate and are now starting Fiscal Year '26 which is a line item amount. Statewide, libraries will receive approximately $25 million less than they did, she said. All is not lost though, Struble said. "What I tell my team and myself, frankly, is that when the president was in office before, there were attempts to remove library funding. And each time, Congress said no," he said. "Libraries are supported across the spectrum, and it's certainly possible that we'll end up there as well." When someone asks, Struble said he doesn't know why there has a need to cut back on library funding. "All I can say to the libraries that reach out to me and ask for advice, I say now is the time to really blitz how much you are tooting your own horn to your legislators. They need to see what you're doing at a more frequent pace," he said. "If you think you're bombarding their inbox, their phone lines, if you're inviting them to storytimes, do it 10 times harder. Bring them in," said Struble. He also advised that they not to shy away from cuts either. "Show them what had to be cut in terms of services because of this reduction," he said. Sometimes libraries absorb these cuts and "take it on the chin." "But I think now is the time to be a little more vocal about that and say, this hurts. I had to stop doing this because of this decision," he said. Struble said the State Library of Ohio is an actual state agency with a five-member board. Jeff Winkle, who is the former director of the Findlay library, is currently board vice president. The agency was created in 1817 and serves three constituency bases including Ohio libraries, state government employees and Ohio residents. The state library is located in Columbus and contains over two million items in its collection, including a large number of government documents, said Struble. The agency also administers the Ohio Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) program, funded through the independent federal agency Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) via their Grants to States program. These funds amount to roughly $5 million or so, he said. The rest of the state library's funding comes from state funds. "It used to be from the General Revenue Fund, roughly $4.5 to $5 million there," he said. "Now we are funded out of the Public Library Fund which is now a line item as part of the state budget." The agency is responsible for a consortium of over 100 libraries that have banded together to share a system that allows them to circulate books, DVDs and other materials around the state. It's called the SEO (Serving Every Ohioan), and the Findlay-Hancock County library is a member, he said. "We're so proud of that work, it continues to grow. I wouldn't be surprised if that number ticks upward over the next couple of years," said Struble. Ohio also has a statewide delivery network to transfer those books and materials. "This is not FedEx. This is not the postal service. This is a system that the State Library of Ohio proctors so that all academic libraries, public libraries, even some school libraries pay a small fee to have two times a week, three times a week, five times a week delivery," he said. "This is such a cost savings to constituents to be able to get those materials from Toledo down to Meigs County, and Cleveland down to Cincinnati, and everywhere in between," added Struble. "I think here in Ohio it's just taken for granted. Not every state has that. We are the envy of the country." The agency also keeps statistics for libraries, offers training for library staff around the state, assists with strategic planning and provides consulting services. He said the grant program is perhaps the most known in library circles. Out of the $5 million or so the library receives each year, at least half goes back in the form of grants to the libraries themselves, he said. "The recent vehicle that the local library has is partially funded with a grant program," said Struble. In addition to tangible items like vehicles, these grants also help support summer library programs and book programs. The Ohio Digital Library has over 180 public libraries in Ohio that have agreed to come together to pool their resources. "It is the envy of the world, literally," he said. "It is the fourth largest eBook lending consortia in the world. We are able to use not a lot of money to leverage over $44 million worth of content. In addition, the State Library, along with the Cleveland Public Library and the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled provide audio, braille and downloadable books to eligible residents, Struble said.