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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 > October > 03 > Entry
Editorial: Libraries took a hit, now they need you
2009 ELECTION
As access to information is eased by the spread of the Internet to more corners of life through ever faster computers, smart phones and other devices, some people might not need libraries as much. Still, for very many people, they’re essential or just a wonderful, free place to enrich themselves.
In response to deep state budget cuts, the Dayton Metro Library is among a half-dozen area libraries that will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. Dayton Metro Library is asking voters to replace an existing 1.25-mill, five-year levy with a continuing 1.75-mill levy. The new levy would add $18.53 a year in taxes for a $100,000 home.
That’s a reasonable ask that will simply help maintain services. It won’t even restore everything that was lost to the state cuts.
The same is true for libraries across the area. All are asking for modest tax hikes simply to maintain what they have or restore some of what was lost.
Besides Dayton Metro, seven others are on the November ballot, including:
• Springboro-Franklin: A new 1-mill levy for five years would restore many of the cuts instituted this summer that reduced library hours, book purchases and staff time. The levy would cost $30.64 a year for a $100,000 home.
• Oakwood: A new five-year, 0.5-mill levy is designed to replace revenue lost to state budget cuts. The levy would cost $15.31 annually for a $100,000 home.
• Tipp City: A new five-year, 0.75-mill levy would be the first ever local tax levy for this library. The library has closed on Thursdays and reduced staff hours by 20 percent. The levy would cost $22.96 per year for a $100,000 home.
• Troy-Miami County: A new 0.6-mill levy that would run for five years would help restore cuts to library hours, programs and services. The levy would cost $18.37 annually for a $100,000 home.
• Waynesville: A new 5-year, 1-mill levy that would help maintain afterschool programs for children is the library’s first tax levy request for operations. The levy would cost $30.62 a year for a $100,000 home.
• Greene County: The seven-library system wants voters to renew a 5-year, 1-mill operating levy that will not raise taxes. The levy annually costs $30.63 for a $100,000 home.
• Lebanon: A new 1-mill continuous levy would be used to pay for support staff and book purchases. The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $26.28 per year. Voters should consider what they get for their money by supporting their local library.
All libraries run extensive programs for kids, especially preschoolers and early elementary school children who are just learning to read. They are invaluable resources for parents and child-care providers, filling an important educational role.
For many adults, the library also is a lifeline, especially in tough economic times. It’s not only low-income people who rely on libraries for Internet access. One estimate says as many as a third of Montgomery County residents aren’t online at home. Some are older people who did not grow up with computers; others don’t have jobs that require Internet skills.
The library is the one place where these folks can both get online and get help navigating the new world in which, for instance, many jobs can only be applied for via a Web site.
In fact, use of libraries has dramatically increased in the past five years, and that was occurring even before the economic downturn. During down times, library traffic tends to increase as consumers look to borrow, rather than buy, books and videos.
The libraries asking for money face serious cuts if their requests are defeated at the ballot box. Dayton Metro Library, for instance, would lose more than a third of its revenue if the levy fails. Added to losses in state aid, that would likely result in a layoff of half the staff, the closing of most branches and a reduction for those that survive to far fewer hours a week, said Tim Kambitsch, executive director.
Voters should support library ballot issues in their communities.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: 2009 endorsements, Editorials, Scott Elliott, Suburban Communities
Comments
By Get Real
October 3, 2009 8:39 PM | Link to this
First you allow your beat reporters to turn off the comments to all the crime stories in an attempt to curb discussion. Now you want to advance additional taxes for an institution whose time has come and gone. Next will you advocate we purchase a horse and wagon, for those of us who still have a job and are already under a tremendous tax burdon, so we can get to work. I think not. NO MORE TAXES AND FREE UP THE COMMENTS ON ALL STORIES.
By citizen and library fan
October 3, 2009 9:19 PM | Link to this
Library usage nationwide is at an all time high, scarcely the sign of an institution whose time has come and gone. Locally, records are being constantly broken in terms of traffic and circulation. Do yourself and your neighbors a favor - vote for your library levy. You will not regret it.
By booklover553
October 4, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this
Hey Get Real—I was at the library the other day ago to pick up some reserved books. I checked the retail price of the three books I picked up—$69.85. That is $69.85 more in my pcoket for this week and I have information on how to repair my bathroom—saving even more money. Vote YES on #40!!
By booklover553
October 4, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this
Hey Get Real—I was at the library the other day ago to pick up some reserved books. I checked the retail price of the three books I picked up—$69.85. That is $69.85 more in my pocket for this week and I have information on how to repair my bathroom—saving even more money. Vote YES on #40!!
By No Waynesville Library Tax
October 5, 2009 6:12 AM | Link to this
Waynesville’s library has a $900,000 carryover and the proposed levy almost doubles the amount they were cut by the State. There is no need for this library tax, and this is the year the school district’s huge tax increase kicks in.
By Ben
October 5, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this
I think it’s more of a principle than anything else. We are all tired of constantly increasing taxes to cover increasing spending by legislators, but it seems the only taxes we have a voice on are those local taxes that we would prefer to support. We see it every day with libraries, schools, and local communities. These levies all have a very difficult time getting passed because these are the only taxes we have any control over, and most of us just want to say no to something. The message doesn’t seem to get through at the state level, so we end up hurting ourselves trying to make a statement that isn’t being heard.
By drunken orangetree
October 5, 2009 7:27 PM | Link to this
Please, vote to cut taxes. The leg. cut taxes in 2005 and look what a boon it has been to Ohio’s economy. Also vote against these levies. Think what a boost to our economy more unemployed people will be.
By joe_mamma
October 6, 2009 8:04 AM | Link to this
Right Drunk!!! Ohio’s bad economy has nothing to do with a faltering auto industry or general declines in the economy. It’s because the legislature lowered taxes in 2005. Keep them coming. You always make me laugh.
By Lea
October 6, 2009 8:40 AM | Link to this
I love the library and will be voting FOR it. If more kids liked libraries, there would be less juvenile delinquency because they’d be too busy READING!
By Calvin
October 6, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this
Did the library increase its spending when the economy was flush with income? It’s time to cut back. The levy includes as increase over what taxes people are currently paying. I’m voting “No.”————for the Lea who loves the library, I suggest that we institute a user fee so those who really like the library and want to use it can help pay for it. $20 per year or more should work about right to give the library an increase over their current predicted income for the next year.——————What we need to watch for is the continual increase in the goodies that politicians and local communities add year after year. The Human Services levy passed by scaring the older people. The Sinclair levy increase passed because everyone wants to pay to educate someone else’s kids after public school and twelfth grade. The Parks levy grand increase to support more fountains in the river type projects for the City of Dayton passed because who can vote against parks. We need a park user fee as well.
By Calvin
October 6, 2009 4:19 PM | Link to this
The library is using the blackmail technique that Human Services and Sinclair used IIRC. Instead of asking for renewals which keep the tax the same, they went for replacements which reset the tax amount for your property based on its current evaluation, usually increasing the amount. BUT they also added on .5 mil new money. A renewal and even a replacement at 1.25 might have handily passed. But I’ll be voting no on a bulk increase or NOTHING type levy. I suppose some suckers will vote this one in and then complain as their property taxes increase along with their income taxes from the state of Ohio now that Strickland is proposing to eliminate the tax cut schedule for April 15th calculations of this year’s taxes from the Taft administration’s tax reductions for working folk.
By Library supporter
October 6, 2009 11:27 PM | Link to this
So many good points. But one question I never hear in the media is cuts to medical benefits for the government? Why? I do not get a full ride or a descent one. To be honest one libray worker out of ? now has 2,000. less a year right out of pocket before any medical is covered. Yea rising health care coverage. But why is it not talked about in the government positions? Pay freezes, cut backs, lay offs, retirement benefits taken away, medical insurance dramaticaly changing for your family. These are all the US issue for us non government citizens. Lets ask about their cuts instead of complaining.
By Davidss2
October 7, 2009 7:34 PM | Link to this
No sure what about healthcare cuts is the point. But note that Congress is excluding themselves from any healthcare system they set up for the little people of the US. Congress also gave themselves $500,000 to publicize their stimulus pork in their districts and gave themselves a 6% increase for operating their offices. Some of that money could be used here in Ohio in flyover country. Anyone heard from Sherrod Brown about helping Ohio instead of Congressfolk? Our library could use some of that money.
By Robert Vigh
October 8, 2009 5:44 PM | Link to this
Property taxes are ridiculous. How did it ever come to a point where what I work for and purchase can then be taxed? I mean, do I really own something that I have a never ending tax obligation too, or am I just leasing from the city? I never vote for property tax increases period, and I find it disheartening that my labor can be enslaved to the community by way of vote. If you like the library so much, please go give them a donation and stop infringing upon the liberty of others.
By Megan Markl
October 19, 2009 2:34 PM | Link to this
I strongly urge people to vote “Yes” for the November levy in support of the Mary L. Cook Library in Waynesville. I am a senior at WHS and a member of the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) at the library. For all my life, my family has enjoyed going to the library to check out books and movies and to participate in the many programs offered to children and families. It is a warm, friendly, welcoming place and an important asset to our community. The summer reading programs spurred my interest in reading, and at school we all looked forward to the visits from library staff to entertain us and encourage us to keep on reading. When it is time for school projects like Science Fair, I cannot imagine what we would do without the library. They have always had the science books ready for us and all the instructions we need to put together our project boards and presentations. They have resource material for school summer assignments and they have the books we need for English and history assignments. The library has always been a safe, comfortable, and supportive place to meet classmates to study or work on projects. It is just a short walk from school! Many of the community groups we belong to also use the library as a meeting place. The Mary L. Cook Library has also become a very important resource for those of us who need access to computers for research and for preparing school work. I also see many adults using the computers so I know there is a strong need for this. As a member of TAB, many teens in our community have had the opportunity to work with youth in summer book buddy programs. Through such projects, we have earned community service hours for NHS and college resumes. We need Mary L. Cook Library to keep providing services to all our citizens, and that can only happen if this levy passes. Please don’t let our community down. Please vote “Yes” for the library in November. It is an investment that benefits everyone!