UPDATE:  Senate Sets the PLF at 1.7%

Ohioans love their libraries. With more than 8.4 million registered borrowers, Ohio’s public libraries are a resource that Ohioans increasingly turn to for a wide variety of services, especially now. Throughout the pandemic, libraries have had to find new ways to continue doing what they do best, and that is serving their communities. Whether it is providing specialized technology assistance, aiding job seekers and small businesses, or adapting educational services to assist students and parents who are new to remote learning, libraries continue to innovate.

We are proud that Ohio has the highest library use per capita in the United States. Our success is dependent on the strong partnership between the state and the local library systems. In Ohio, public libraries are funded through the Public Library Fund (PLF). The PLF is currently set at 1.70% of the General Revenue Fund (GRF), but it will be automatically cut to 1.66% on July 1, 2021.  The Ohio Library Council is asking lawmakers to make public libraries a priority in this budget and maintain the PLF at the current (FY21) rate of 1.7%.