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Libraries are underfunded due to being over staffed and due to the cost cuts the staff has been reduce as well as the hours and days of operation. __The average 2002 spending of the 6,349 public libraries included in our study was $30.32 per person served. Of the library systems studied, 1,130 (18 percent) reported per capital spending that was less than half that. Those libraries - with annual spending of less than $15 per person(1).__ All most all the libraries in the U.S. is underfunding. All over the U.S. the librarians are all worried about losing their jobs. __State librarians are planning and developing to try and get their fundings back up. Tennessee is in the bottom five states in overall funding for public libraries. In Cleveland less than 2 percent of $1.1 million budget comes from the state(2).__ These libraries are having problems evening staying open.

Libraries are having issues getting new books that are coming out due to the money cuts. They are not getting enough money to pay for new books or even new equipment. They all say there is even a possible chance that some libraries will be closed down. In September2008, the economy started heading toward the historic crash and with the historic crash the budgets of every state government including Ohio’s. __In 2008 the PLF annual total was 450.6 million dollars, 2009 the PLF annual total was 370.4 million dollars and the reduction from 2008 was -17.8%, and 2010 PLF annual total was 347.9 million dollars and the reduction from 2009 was -22.8%(3).__

The libraries funding from 2008 to 2010 dropped 102,626,756 dollars. The libraries around the U.S. are predicting the fundings will drop even more as the years go on. A lot of the libraries are hoping that their funding will go up so that they all can keep their jobs and keep their jobs. This past November during the election most of the libraries passed their issues. __Statewide 80% of their issues were successful. There were 38 issues on the ballot and 30 of them passed. Altogether 23 of the 29 new libraries levies were successful(4).__ Libraries have already absorbed a 20% drop in income from the state for the first half of this year, and Ohio’s public libraries now stand to lose an additional 30%. At the 20% level, libraries are already having problems making ends meet. __Cuts are meant to close Ohio’s 3.2 billion budget gap without raising taxes on families and businesses even though the move would suspend some library services statewide(5).__

1. [] 2. [] 3. [|www.olc.org] 4. [|http://saveohiolibraries.com] 5. []