Tuesday, April 8 was Library Legislative Day, an annual event where Librarians, Fiscal Officers, and Board Trustees travel to Columbus to share library stories and to advocate for continued funding for Ohio’s libraries. The timing of this year’s Library Legislative Day was significant given the proposed changes to library funding unveiled in the House budget the first week of April.
Thank you to everyone who contacted your state representative and House Speaker Matt Huffman. House members received tens of thousands of emails and calls from Ohioans who shared their personal stories of how their local libraries positively impacted their lives! Your stories made a difference.
Progress was made. On Tuesday, the House Finance Committee amended the budget to allocate $490 million in library funds for fiscal year 2026 and $500 million for fiscal year 2027. While we appreciate the House’s efforts to adjust the funding proposal, it’s important to note that the current version of the bill still falls $90.8 million short of the Governor’s recommended funding for public libraries over the two-year period.
The state budget is now with the Senate, and the process will not be completed until the end of June. The Tuscarawas County Public Library System will continue to work alongside our fellow library systems to advocate for the restoration of the Public Library Fund (PLF) to 1.75% per Governor DeWine’s proposed budget. Local libraries play a crucial role in delivering critical services, including access to educational resources, technology, and workforce development programs.
There is still work to be done. We encourage you to stay engaged and stay tuned. We will share updates and important ways you can support libraries in the weeks to come.
Thank you for believing in the value of libraries!
Sincerely,
Michelle McMorrow Ramsell