Library friends,

 

Several days ago, I had the opportunity to take two of my top managers with me to the Ohio Library Council’s Legislative Day in Columbus, a day jam-packed with visits to our Ohio House representatives and senators and, for the first time in my memory, an address by the Governor about the importance of Ohio libraries. This day is uplifting in so many ways, as we band together with our colleagues from all over the state to tell our stories and ask for a reinstatement of the former level of state funding for libraries. I haven’t talked about this recently, but the truth remains that libraries now receive $113 million LESS from the State budget than we did in 2001. And, although Governor DeWine has kept our percentage of the General Revenue fund (your state income and sales tax total) at 1.68% instead of dropping it further, he also didn’t make it permanent, and it USED to be 2.22%. Hence the advocacy.

 

The most interesting thing that happened to me in Columbus was that I was early for an appointment I shared with colleagues from Summit County (We share a representative with them who also covers Brewster.) and I had a long time alone with the legislative aide, who was turning 21 years old that very day. As I shared about using his library card to borrow eBooks (He’s spent his own money buying 400 of them!), 3-D printing, access to Lynda.com for tech and other workplace skills, he asked me a hard question — “Why should we give you more money when no one knows you do these things?” I reminded him that marketing costs money, and that we spend a LOT of time, effort and, yes, money, on trying to get the word out about library services. But I find myself mulling his question over and over. People are so fragmented now. Years ago, you could send out a press release and be sure that everyone in your community read the same paper and watched one of three TV stations. Now few people, especially his age, do any of that. So, we valiantly try every avenue to reach people with the amazing news about their library. And, since you read this newsletter, I’m preaching to the choir! But, if you can, please tell a friend or neighbor what they’re missing if they aren’t regularly using their library!

 

I have a book recommendation for fellow “women of a certain age.” It’s clinical psychologist Mary Pipher’s incredible new Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing as We Age. This is one of those rare books which is getting returned to the library (for you to read next) so I can buy my own copy to highlight and write in! I love her analogy that we’re not just adrift or left to the whims of life’s changing currents, but still have control of the oars. Pipher is known for the groundbreaking and still relevant Reviving Ophelia, for anyone has a teenage girl they care about. I’m also finishing the book the committee picked for this fall’s One Book One Community, but it’s a secret and I can’t tell yet! And in fiction, I just started Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women about two girls from different backgrounds who begin working as divers in Korea of the 1930s. You know that checks off all my boxes, learning about women’s lives in other times and places. (Plus, Lisa See is fabulous; I would say my favorite remains Snow Flower

and the Secret Fan.)

 

Whether you use the library for books or movies or other services, we appreciate you!