When my son was born I took a part time job to supplement costs and to get me out of the house.
Working freelance can be a lonely career and with my son I found that art was less of a priority. I began working for the nearby library first as a shelver and then behind the counter as a Library Technical Assistant.
I have worked in libraries for almost 15 years including the time I spent with the Chula Vista Public Library back in San Diego. During that time I've seen several budget crises but this one seems more severe than I've seen before. I've seen the threat of people losing their jobs but this time there's a great chance some branches may close.
Dayton Metro faces a potential $6,000,000 dollar shortfall in the very near future without some serious help. Jobs, hours, and branches are likely to be cut. I'm already crafting a letter to my representatives but time is short. The decision makers are in committee and the budget needs to be finished by the end of the fiscal year in about a week.
I placed the text from the Dayton Metro Library site on this blog post because there are no permanent links to the articles they post. But here is the website and information for as long as it lasts. Dayton Metro Library.
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"Dayton Metro Library Faces Extreme Cuts
Legislators Need to Hear From Library Users and SupportersWorking freelance can be a lonely career and with my son I found that art was less of a priority. I began working for the nearby library first as a shelver and then behind the counter as a Library Technical Assistant.
I have worked in libraries for almost 15 years including the time I spent with the Chula Vista Public Library back in San Diego. During that time I've seen several budget crises but this one seems more severe than I've seen before. I've seen the threat of people losing their jobs but this time there's a great chance some branches may close.
Dayton Metro faces a potential $6,000,000 dollar shortfall in the very near future without some serious help. Jobs, hours, and branches are likely to be cut. I'm already crafting a letter to my representatives but time is short. The decision makers are in committee and the budget needs to be finished by the end of the fiscal year in about a week.
I placed the text from the Dayton Metro Library site on this blog post because there are no permanent links to the articles they post. But here is the website and information for as long as it lasts. Dayton Metro Library.
___________________________________
"Dayton Metro Library Faces Extreme Cuts
June 19, 2009
Gov. Strickland announced plans today to remove $213.4 million in funding to Ohio's public libraries in order to fund other budget priorities. The funding for Ohio's libraries would drop to half of 2008 levels under his proposal. The cost to the Dayton Metro Library would be $2.3 million in 2009 and $4.7 million in 2010. The cut for this year would be in addition to the $4.1 million reduction the library is already facing.
"Cuts of this size would be absolutely devastating," said Tim Kambitsch, Executive Director of the Dayton Metro Library. "We are struggling to stay open with the cuts we have already absorbed. If passed, there will be deep cuts in hours, elimination of services to residents of every age, and frankly I have a hard time imagining how we can avoid closing branches. I urge everyone to immediately contact their representatives in the Ohio House and Senate." Kambitsch said he was surprised, "The library community had no idea these additional cuts were coming."
The governor's proposal must be approved by the Conference Committee of the Ohio Legislature, which is currently working out differences between the Senate and House budget bills.
What do you think? Is it a good idea to slash library budgets to cover other legislative priorities? Let you State Senator and State Representative know what you think immediately."
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