Thank you to everyone who reached out to State Representatives in support of Ohio's Public Libraries. Your support means the world to us.

The House did listen and change some of the initial budget to give libraries more money, putting us closer to the Governor's proposed amount, but still $90 million under it over the biennium. They did also change the funding style and eliminate the Public Library Fund, instead moving libraries to a line-item appropriation. This means library budgets would be more vulnerable to yearly cuts and changes, since our funding would no longer be standing law (like it is currently with the Public Library Fund).

The budget bill will now go to the Ohio Senate, where they will begin making their own changes. We are not currently asking patrons to contact Ohio Senators, but we also have a long way to go before the budget is passed.