Since Sunday I have been wrapped up in #saveohiolibraries hoping to make as many aware that Governor Strickland proposes cutting the Public Library Fund by 50% over his two-year budget. That according to the Ohio Department of Taxation in 2010-11 budget years that General Revenue Fund is projected to fall 18% & 16% and cuts to libraries far exceed that.
I have been calling and emailing, rallying and tweeting, writing and talking. None of which I would be able to do if not for my ability to read.
Friday, the Cincinnati Women Bloggers let me guest post. During Library Lovers Month, I tried to encapsulate what a library is, what it does, what it means to so many. Libraries are a lifeline.
But I still have more to say:
To the people who say everything is on the Internet, we don’t need libraries. Apparently you do not look for older newspaper articles online.
To the part-time college students working at my library who say we don’t live in Ohio it does not affect us. Hopefully, your post-graduate plan do not include looking for employment across the Ohio River in Cincinnati.
To those who live outside of Ohio, if you have ever used your home library’s InterLibrary Loan and requested they borrow materials from another library, you may have benefited from Ohio public libraries.
To those who say they don’t use libraries, they buy books, DVDs and CDs. Because you do not directly benefit, you do not and cannot support it for those who do? Does it occur to you that the book you bought might have been researched with library materials?
To those who say everyone should buy a computer and have home internet access, should you ever experience joblessness libraries will still welcome you when you have to trim back on luxuries like Internet, Netflix and books. Libraries will still have a free place for you to meet with your network contacts, that does not require the purchase of a fancy latte.
We have three days to let our voices be heard and to thank those legislators, who DO support libraries.
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by Andi on June 22, 2009
in library
In about a week the Ohio General Assembly will decide whether or not to accept Governor Strickland’s proposed state budget, which includes 50% reduction to the Public Library Fund. This is the primary funding source for the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County. A library system that has been working with reductions since 2000 when Governor Taft made cuts.
Ohio’s public libraries offer CRITICAL services to those looking for jobs and operating small businesses. Public libraries are an integral part of education, which Governor Strickland says is critical to the state’s economic recovery. But it is unlikely that many of Ohio’s public library systems, especially those without local levies, can remain open with these proposed cuts.
To read more about this issue and find your representatives, visit PLCH’s call for action page. If you are a library lover or employee who wants to show your support on your social networking sites get a profile photo from Worthington Libraries and ways you can help spread the word via Twitter and Facebook. Use the hashtag #saveohiolibraries in your tweets and send a few to @Ted_Strickland
When the University of Dayton graduated me in 1999, my five and ten year goals had little to do with where I would be professionally (which did not bode well for my interviews). I did know that I wanted to continue a debt-free credit card lifestyle, pay off my student loans, buy a new or newer car, pursue a Master’s degree and buy a house. Earlier this year I paid off the last of my student loan and car payment, I never carried a credit card balance, my Master’s education was paid in full by the time I finished and I am on the hunt for a house!
To accomplish my financial goals, I had to live within my means, go without and practice delayed gratification. When I scan the usual crowd at the library who are in for the air conditioning, computers or gaming because they do not have them at home, I think to myself the only difference between them and me is that I draw a (meager) paycheck.
One of the best compliments I received in my adulthood was from my sister when she asked me to be the guardian of her then first-born. She said, I know you won’t let her spend her money on any junk and that any money you do let her spend, it will come after carefully understanding the impact of the expenditure. And why wouldn’t I encourage behavior that makes her financially savvy and independent from an early age?
Also, I enjoy the reaction on salespeople’s faces when they realize they have underestimated the ability of a young, single woman financially making it on her own and having a stellar credit rating. Suddenly, they are very interested in having my business.
The weekend before my friend’s wedding we got together for a crafternoon to create her fabric cover card box, hand-stamped name cards and to fold the wedding ceremony programs. The bride provided milkshakes so I was totally game to help!
I brought the paper cutter so I cut the names and blue cardstock that was matted on the hand-stamped polka dot background that another friend was stamping. The bride was folding programs and then when she finished that we all glued.
Then came the fabric-covered card box, which is two pieces. The opening was cut first so that the fabric could be tucked under. For the box, we brought the fabric up to top of the box but did not tuck it over the edge (otherwise the lid would not fit well). Double-sided tape and glue gun were the main adhesives. I had my netbook and we looked up how to create a bow and the bride created her own bow! I’m so proud of her because she says she’s not crafty, but that bow proves it just requires following directions!
I forgot to take a photo of the table, but she had polka dot table runners. And probably my favorite feature of this wedding was that they had cupcakes instead of slices of cake! The chocolate covered pretzels rods were delish, too, but in lieu of traditional favors they made a donation to two charities, which is a thoughtful gesture.
Since I finally went to the shower where I gave these gifts, I can share that I made more personalized onesies for my expectant friends. I think I have given about ten of these and I fear if I don’t give these to future expectant mothers they might be a bit let down.
Junebug is for a baby girl expected in June and Rock Star & Parrot Head are for my concert-loving friend who is expecting twins.
I spied this 2-bottle wine bad redtagged at Target and thought it would be a great option for a padded netbook bag! It is made of neoprene, like the netbook cases, but less expensive. All I had to do was remove the zig-zap stitching from the center (you can still see where it was). Now, I have another padded case for my netbook and this, too, is big enough to hold the power cord.
