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Libraries continue to brace for the worst

Troy-Miami County Public Library will lay off six, cut bookmobile; Huber Heights branch could be shut down.

State Rep. Seth Morgan, R-Huber Heights, from the 36th District, talks to citizens Monday, July 6, at the Huber Heights branch of the Dayton Metro Library about library funding and the state budget.

Staff photo by Ron Alvey State Rep. Seth Morgan, R-Huber Heights, from the 36th District, talks to citizens Monday, July 6, at the Huber Heights branch of the Dayton Metro Library about library funding and the state budget.

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By Steve Bennish and Nancy Bowman, Staff Writers Updated 6:37 AM Tuesday, July 7, 2009

In Huber Heights, citizens braced for a worst-case state budget scenario that could slash Dayton Metro Library branches and hours.

In Troy, they are feeling the pain of that scenario.

Monday, July 6, marked another low point for public library lovers as Gov. Ted Strickland and legislators make slow progress in resolving a $3.2 billion budget deficit.

The Troy-Miami County Public Library said it will lay off six staffers, cut hours for most others, park its bookmobile beginning Monday, July 13, increase fines and close one day per week. The bookmobile service cut will save about $80,000 through the end of the year, library Director Rachelle Miller said. The bookmobile has been a library service since 1939. Miller said the cuts are the second this year.

In Huber Heights, state Rep. Seth Morgan, R-Huber Heights, and Timothy Kambitsch, Dayton Metro Library executive director, tried to explain to about 30 patrons gathered in a library branch conference room where things could be headed.

As if to underscore the potential hit, the branch in the Huber Centre strip mall hummed with activity. Visitors lined up two or more deep to consult computers and online catalogues.

Kambitsch said the Dayton Metro system could endure up to $7 million in cuts from state budget slashing in 2009 and 2010. The system’s five-year levy expires at year’s end.

In a worst-case scenario if a new levy fails, all but a few branches would close. New acquisitions of books, films and other materials now cost $4.6 million annually, and that could be cut in half.

A less severe outcome could mean libraries would close some days and slash hours.

“Even in the most optimistic scenario, I can’t see how we can avoid cutting hours,” Kambitsch said. Two-thirds of Montgomery County residents have library cards, he said.

Morgan urged citizens to keep up the pressure in Columbus. Elected representatives, he said, are impressed with the thousands of calls they’ve gotten in support of libraries. “We have to fight to not cut our libraries to the bone,” he said.

Donyale Macon, a stay-at-home mom to two young children, participates in Mocha Moms that meets at the library. She has read hundreds of books to her children from the branch. “It serves as a great resource,” she said.

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