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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > September > 16
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Guest column: Many depend on Dayton libraries, even to Google
2009 ELECTION
This column was written by Tim Kambitsch, executive director of the Dayton Metro Library.
The Sept. 6 editorial (“Strickland not only problem facing libraries”) describing the challenges facing public libraries suggested that some people believe libraries are less relevant in the age of Google and that other institutions might be better suited to provide some of libraries’ most heavily used services.
The majority of Dayton-area residents disagrees with that viewpoint. Every day, more than 10,000 area residents visit a public library. In fact, the Dayton Metro Library is busier than ever before.
Last year, residents checked out a record 7.6 million items. This year we will easily exceed that number. Foot traffic is up, too, with almost 3.7 million visits to our 21 locations. Eighty-five percent of households in our service area have at least one active library user. For many families, the library is essential to their quality of life.
A key fact missing from the editorial is that approximately one in three people do not have access to a computer with Internet in their homes. Last year, library visitors logged almost 750,000 hours on library computers.
People rely on the library for homework, job hunting and other activities that are essential to living in a digital world. Newspaper editors and other knowledge workers may be able to easily flip a few fingers to look up a fact from their desk, but the library is often the only place many other people can access online content.
With government agencies, employers and educational institutions all expecting people to have ready access to the Internet, it is clear that public libraries are needed more, not less.
For someone without computer experience, having access to the Internet isn’t enough. They need help getting started.
As at many libraries, the Dayton Metro Library offers free, hands-on classes in basic computer skills. Offerings range from how to get started using e-mail to online job hunting.
There is also a free, open computer lab where a librarian gives one-on-one assistance for the person trying to master the computer. The classes have had a waiting list since they began.
The editorial is correct in pointing out the funding challenges facing public libraries. We can’t ask local voters to make up for all the state cuts.
The Dayton Metro Library has implemented substantial cost-saving strategies, including unpaid furlough days and wage freezes for all employees, cutting the book budget, reducing programs and leaving jobs unfilled.
It’s especially tough when we see a growth in demand for services. We will spend nearly $1.8 million less in 2009 than in 2008. We know we will have to make more cuts next year.
The fate of the levy in November will have a huge impact. Even if the levy passes and we see an increase in local funding, we will have approximately $1.6 million less revenue in 2010 than last year.
However, it is the consequences of a failed levy that demand everyone’s attention. Failure means that revenues would drop to nearly half of last year. Failure means the closure of more than half our branches or limiting their hours to only a few days per week.
The Dayton Metro Library will have to lay off more than half of its employees and cut book buying to the bone. Those cuts will mean that hundreds of thousands of books will be inaccessible and hundreds of computers will sit idle. Kids will not have the safe and constructive spaces after school or in the evening.
Our community uses the Dayton Metro Library now more than ever. The loss of this community resource now would leave a big gap that no other institution can fill.
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