Sat Nov 21 2009
Libraries provide many services
The library is a place my girls and I visit about three times a week. At the ages of three and four, the library is a place where my daughters don't hear no. We read together and look up the answers to questions they ask. There are so many things I do with my girls relating to the library and the information to which we have access.
I urge you to contact state legislators who will be making a decision on this proposal very soon. Let them know of the services you use. Tell them how you would be affected if this proposal passes. In some libraries, this proposed cut would have an immediate effect through the loss of jobs of library personnel.
Visit ohio.gov for email information. Your letter will help those working in the libraries and those of us who cannot live without our local libraries.
Alain Miller
Napoleon
Sports teams generate own funds
After reading Daniel Gray's latest letter to the editor, I felt I had to respond.
Let me just tell you out at Defiance High School we have the best teachers, coaches and student/athletes. If you would take the time to go out there to a sports event, night of the arts, or Band Spectacular, you would see just some of the things these students excel at.
You went to school and somebody had to pay your way through school. You say that the sports teams should pay for their own equipment and they do. We have athletic boosters and parents who, through donations and volunteers, make sure the sports teams have what they need. Every team also has 50/50 drawing and raffles to raise money.
Also there is the concession stand that helps to raise money. Football is the big money maker and really helps to support the other teams. Also, take the baseball field and all the work out there. All of the work done out there was paid for by donations and volunteer work.
The taxpayers do not pay for equipment like you think. Maybe next time before you write one of your letters you should do some more research.
Jason Ruder
Defiance
Show support for libraries
Save our library funding! Users of public library systems in Ohio face drastic cuts in hours, services and programs if our state legislators accept Gov. Ted Strickland's proposal to cut the funds allocated for libraries by almost 50 percent. Some libraries not as fortunate as the Defiance system to have passed a levy may have to close their doors.
Because of the faltering economy, Ohio is experiencing a shortfall in monies collected from taxes. Because of the shortages, libraries have already lost 20 percent of their state revenue in 2009. Now the cuts recommended by the governor far exceed the state's drop in revenue and are more than double the reductions projected by the Ohio Department of Taxation.
Staffers at the libraries tell us that circulation and usage have been increasing as the economy is struggling. People need the free resources more than ever. If you believe that libraries are important in our communities, please contact your legislators before the June 30 deadline, urging them to reject the governor's plan.
Contact: Sen. Stephen Buehrer (614)466-8150 or SD01@senate.state.oh.us, Rep. Bruce Goodwin (614) 644-5091 district74@ohr.state.oh.us and Rep. Lynn Wachtmann (614)466-3760 district75@ohr.state.oh.us
For your own fun and funding for the library, on Sunday, go to the Art in the Park event, sponsored by Friends of the Library, starting at 11 a.m. at the fortgrounds.
Marilyn Mallott
Defiance
Many libraries won't survive cuts
Gov. Strickland's proposed cuts to the libraries of Ohio -- 52 percent over a two-year period -- should be of great concern to all of us.
Libraries involve much more than just checking out books. In adverse economic times, the libraries are called upon to aid those who have been hurt by providing free access to the Internet to apply for unemployment benefits, file for taxes, look for new job opportunities and research other occupations, etc.
Libraries offer free and/or low cost means of entertainment for the whole family. They offer a place of respite when families are in contention due to unemployment or other conflicts, and libraries are meeting places for tutoring, mentoring and counseling. They offer a partial place of refuge for the homeless or those without sufficient heating or air conditioning.
Many library systems (and/or their branch libraries) will not survive a 52 percent cut as two-thirds have no local tax funding. Difficult cuts must be made, but hopefully, more realistic cuts can be made in library funding.
Ohio's biennium budget will be finalized Tuesday. Please contact the following immediately if these drastic library cuts concern you: State Sen. Steve Buehrer (614-466-8150 or SD01@senate.state.oh.us), State Rep. Bruce Goodwin (614-644-5091 or district74@ohr.state.oh.us), State Rep. Lynn Wachtmann (614-466-3760 or district75@ohr.state.oh.us), Gov. Ted Strickland (614-466-3555 or www.governor.ohio.gov/Assistance/ContacttheGovernor/tabid/150/Default.aspx).
Mary Williams
rural Cecil
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