Talking Points
Message to Lawmakers
- Make public libraries a priority in the state budget
- Maintain PLF funding and set the permanent law language at at least 1.70% of the State’s General Revenue Fund (GRF)
- Hold public libraries harmless from any additional reductions in state funding (HB 1)
Ohio’s Public Libraries…
- Offer literacy and homework help for children, including free tutoring, after-school programs and summer enrichment.
- Provide public access to the internet, computers and the latest technology, including mobile WiFi hotspots, tablets, 3-D printers, and more.
- Help Ohioans find jobs and provide online educational courses and tech training.
- Serve as the hub for their community and a place for people to gather.
- Collaborate with private groups, food banks, and state and local government entities to help deliver local services.
- Provide life-long learning opportunities and programming for all ages.
- Offer personalized, one-on-one support to find unbiased and well researched information as well as community resources.
More Facts:
- Unlike schools and other local governments, public libraries do not receive state funding for facilities/buildings through the Capital Appropriations Bill. The only option is to utilize operating funds, pass a bond levy, or borrow extremely limited amounts of funds.
- Unlike counties, cities and school districts, public libraries do not receive Casino revenue from Ohio’s casinos.
- Not all public libraries have a local property tax levy and rely on state funding through the PLF as their primary source of funding for day-to-day operations and providing services to their communities.
- More than half of the total funding for Ohio’s public libraries comes from the state through the PLF.
- Ohio’s public libraries use state funding in a cost-effective manner. For every $1 spent by Ohio’s public libraries, they return $5 in economic value to Ohioans.