The Wood County District Public Library (WCDPL) needs YOUR help!
Tell the Ohio House: Don’t Cut Ohio Libraries! Ohio’s libraries are facing an unprecedented challenge in the Ohio House of Representatives. This week, the Ohio House introduced their version of the state budget. The bill introduced in the House Finance Committee eliminates the Public Library Fund (PLF) as it currently exists in state law.
How will the House’s version of the budget impact Ohio’s public libraries?
- The Ohio House of Representatives’ budget proposal eliminates the Public Library Fund, a mechanism that has funded Ohio’s public library systems for many decades.
- Ohio House Members plan to replace the Public Library Fund with a lump dollar amount for all
Ohio libraries, which will result in cuts to libraries across the state. - The Public Library Fund distributed the same amount in 2024 as it did in 2000; and House
Members have put forward a dollar amount that does not account for a quarter of a century
of inflation.
The Public Library Fund accounts for 60% of WCDPL’s tax revenues. The PLF makes 60% of all WCDPL operations possible: storytimes for families, technology assistance via classes and one-on-one support, help accessing tax forms and other government information/services, helping parents and caregivers instill in their children a love of reading and learning, bookmobile services from Northwood to Hoytville, and so much more.
Please contact Representative Haraz Ghanbari (Northwood residents, please contact Representative Josh Williams) and Speaker Matt Huffman BEFORE April 7 and tell them:
- DON’T CUT OHIO’S PUBLIC LIBRARIES!
- DON’T CUT MY LIBRARY! Share what you love about your library and the impact it has had on
your life. Personal stories that resonate with legislators need to be told. - The ASK – Restore the PLF and set it at 1.75&
Rep. Haraz Ghanbari : (614) 466-8104 or rep75@ohiohouse.gov
Rep. Josh Williams: (Northwood) (614) 466-1418 or rep44@ohiohouse.gov
Speaker Matt Huffman: (614) 466-6344 or rep78@ohiohouse.gov
If you want your tax dollars to come back from Columbus to support public libraries across the Buckeye State, please make contacts now by phone or by email!
Michael Penrod
WCDPL Director
