By LISA NICELY

nicely@crescent-news.com

PAULDING -- For the first time in 90 years, the Paulding County Carnegie Library is asking voters for help.

The library district has an additional .65-mill continuing levy for current operating expenses on the November ballot.

"We know that there are many request for taxpayer dollars in any election, we're just hoping our constituents will see the value of the library being in a short drive, bicycle ride or walk away and recognize that great value to them," said Sue Derck, president of the Paulding County Carnegie Library board of trustees.

The levy would generated approximately $200,000 estimated gross dollars. It would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 approximately $22.75 annually, according to the Paulding County auditor's office.

Library director Susan Pieper said the levy is vital for the district, and can help taxpayers as well.

"This is affordable," said Pieper, adding the role of the library can help many families in challenging economic times. "The library can help families who need to budget. They can cut back on their magazine subscriptions by reading them here. We have Internet connections."

Pieper said the need for the levy is great because of funding issues from the state. The majority of the library's funding, 93 percent, comes from the state. Libraries in the state were receiving a percent of the state's personal income tax revenue, but that was frozen in 2002. From then until 2008, the amount was either frozen or reduced.

In 2008, the funding was changed so Ohio libraries would split 2.2 percent of the general revenue fund tax revenue. However, with the troubled economy revenue in the state is down forcing library funding to be decreased.

The Paulding County library system had to cut an additional $15,000 from its budget this year because of state funding cuts.

"The funding did not recover as I hoped," said Pieper. "We tried to squeak by, but as expenses increased we had to dip into savings. Our board wanted to have one year of operating funds saved in case anything catastrophic happened. We've had to dig into that fund more and more. We've cut back on buying books, there's been a hiring freeze and no raises. We cannot continue to dip into our savings."

Derck said the levy is of the utmost importance to the future of the library district.

"The state revenues are just not there," she said. "There's been so many cuts that we've already taken a reduction in our current year budget because funds that were anticipated won't be available. The economy has a great deal to do with the funding of our library. Especially now, in times such as these, the utilization of the library is higher because of access to the Internet and availability of best-selling books, movies and DVDs to borrow rather than rent or buy. We're doing this all with less funds."

The board decided to go before the voters for help. They asked library officials to come up with a bare minimum figure that would allow the library to get by with the current funding. The levy will generate approximately that amount -- $200,000. Pieper said if the levy does not pass the board will have to re-examine the budget.

"What we would probably have to do is reduce hours across the board to all three locations," she said. "We may also have to cut the hours of employees. We may also have to raise fees for copying and special services."

Some cuts have already been made in the budget.

"We've already cut Saturday afternoon hours at the library," said Derck. "Unfortunately, if the levy is not passed I don't know where those cuts will be coming from because we are operating as efficiently as we can currently."

However if the levy does pass, the library services would be fine. The levy could also allow the library to offer other services. If all goes well, there is even the possibility of another branch library.

"If it passes we wouldn't have to make cuts and we could possibly open up a few services such as homebound delivery and different programs," Pieper said. "There is also an organized group in Grover Hill that would like a library."

Pieper said that she would eventually really like to see a branch not only in Grover Hill, but in other locations as well.

"I would love to see a time when every child that lives in a hamlet can ride their bike to a public library," she said. "It's so important. This is good for the county development and kids living in Paulding County."