Thank you for standing up for your library.
When we asked, you and thousands of people across Ohio sent emails, letters, and made phone calls to our state legislators to support quality library funding. In response, our legislators did not restore the Public Library Fund (PLF). Instead, the House and now the Senate, have both passed their own budget propsals, which still eliminate the PLF and move public library funding to a yearly appropriation.

An appropriation is a far more vulnerable funding mechanism that can easily be eliminated in a single budget—unlike the Public Library Fund, which is written into Ohio law. This piece of law about the PLF states that libraries will be funded with a percentage of Ohio’s annual revenue. This percentage might increase or decrease each year when state revenue fluctuates. In fact, in 2024, libraries received the same dollar amount as in 2000 because revenue was down. Despite the fluctuations, this method of library funding works. Ohio has used the PLF method for over 100 years with amazing results. In 2023, Ohioans visited their local libraries more than 44.6 million times (the equivalent of 434 sold-out Buckeye football games at Ohio Stadium). Those library visits keep increasing each year.

Why do legislators suddenly want to change everything? Even if they do, there’s still money for libraries, isn’t there?
The House and Senate want control over the funds given to public libraries. Their budget method gives them this control. A state representative told library leaders in Dover, Ohio, “The Legislature is trying to decouple the PLF from current funding models, offer an 'increase' this year, and cut funding altogether in two years.”

Will state legislators actually get rid of public library funding?
We don’t know yet if this change marks the end of state funding but it’s clear that some legislators are planning for that goal. If the House and Senate win the budget battle, we know that libraries will immediately be at the mercy of changing political agendas. The current agenda ties funding to censorship rules. If libraries don't comply, they lose funds. 

What can we do?
You can speak to your elected representatives, telling them you do not support their funding proposals and actions in opposition to public libraries. 

We will continue to implore the legislature to keep the PLF as Governor DeWine recommended. We will also keep working hard to give you access to the materials and services we can provide. It may be a very rough road ahead for all of us if state funding disappears, but we will continue to do the best we can with the funds we have.

How will the House and Senate's version of the budget impact Ohio?

• The Ohio House of Representatives’ biennium budget proposal eliminates the Public Library Fund, a mechanism that has funded 251 public library systems for four decades.
• Ohio House Members want to replace the Public Library Fund with a lump dollar amount for all Ohio libraries, resulting in cuts to libraries across the state.
• The Public Library Fund has remained flat for 25 years and House Members have put forward a dollar amount that does not account for a quarter of a century of inflation.
• The line-item change could also result in striking library funding completely from future budgets.
• Both versions limit the ability of public libraries to raise funds with local levies. The Senate version goes a step further and allows local officals to reduce millage, even if local voters have approved the library levy.

The state budget process will likely last until late June as you can see in the diagram below. We will continue to update you as we receive information. Thank you for advocating for your library.