A plea for the library

Friends and Fellow Greene Countians,

We've had a glorious summer and fall here in Greene County. We've been out a few times enjoying both the colorful leaves and the colorful election signs. There is one I want especially to draw your attention to.

Obviously the beautilul leaves are not the reason for this letter. Full disclosure: I am in the seventh year of my first term as a trustee on the Greene County Library Board. I am shamelessly requesting your support of the library's 1-mill levy renewal, Issue 7. If you aren't actually involved in promoting a levy, it may have escaped your notice, but I hope this letter will capture your attention, especially as you vote on Nov. 3.

The levy is a renewal of a 1-mill, five-year levy, not an increase or a new levy. You will not notice any additional cost on your tax bill. That's about $30 a year for every $100,000 worth of property here. We are also very much aware that Greene County's unemployment rate is too high and we want to be very careful in asking for money from you.

We have a superb library system here in Greene County. We were recently (again) voted a top 10 US library when ranked alongside similar sized libraries. That's not to be sneezed at. Libraries are ranked on circulation, staffing and materials. Dull stuff, yes, I know. But it is the stuff that makes our library, all seven of them, excellent.

Several years ago we did a survey and learned that our patrons wanted more materials (books, CDs, etc.), Sunday hours open, and more programming for both children and adults. We on the board and our director have been very careful to do these things. Maybe you aren't one who needs Sunday hours, or perhaps you haven't enjoyed some of the excellent programs that are available, but they are there, and for an extremely low cost to Greene Countians.

You've no doubt been made aware of the state of Ohio's financial condition. Ohio's libraries get a large chunk of their funding from the state and when the state's tax collections go down, so does our funding. Our Greene County libraries took a $2.8 million budget reduction this past year. At first we were told to plan our budget with a potential 8% cut. Well, our administration planned on a 20% cut and it turned out to be 18%. Many cuts were made and more will no doubt have to be made, but the 1-mill levy renewal is essential to continuing our usual excellent library service.

Our circulation runs over 3 million items -- about 20 items for every Greene Countian. That's an amazing number and it proves how important library services are. While waiting for a recovery, it appears that those circulation numbers will be increasing.

Okay, that's the end of the hard sell. I just want you to PLEASE vote for Issue 7 - the library's 1-mill renewal. And if you wish to go a step further, you might also send this letter to all YOUR friends in Greene County and ask them to support this levy, too.

Thank you very much!

Barbara Heckart