Representatives from Valley Libraries Meet with State Lawmakers

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Representatives from the Mahoning Valley’s two largest public library systems and 200 other librarians across the state met with lawmakers in Columbus this week.

Aimee Fifarek, director and CEO of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, and Jim Wilkins, executive director and fiscal officer of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, were among the representatives who participated in the Ohio Library Council’s Legislative Day.

The library representatives discussed library funding, literacy programs and the importance of libraries in preparing people to thrive in today’s economy through workforce development programs. 

“Libraries are a resource that our friends and neighbors in the Valley have always turned to for a wide variety of our services.” Fifarek said. “From early literacy to teenage and adult workforce development, libraries provide programs and services to Valley residents of all ages, and they do so in a cost-effective manner.”

Fifarek stressed the importance of the Public Library Fund, saying it “is critically important because about half of our funding comes from state funding. Most of the rest of our funding comes from local sources.”

Ohio’s libraries have the highest use per capita in the nation, with 7.7 million registered borrowers, according to a news release.

“The level of community interest in our libraries is incredible when you look at the numbers,” Wilkins said. “Between our two library systems, in 2023, we had well over a million library visits, and over 2 million items were checked out either in person or digitally. Almost 4,000 children participated in our summer reading programs, and 136,000 participants attended programs at our libraries.”

Wilkins said libraries are a good investment.

“We continue to be a place where people come to use our computers as well. Between us, our computers were used by the public 135,000 times last year,” Wilkins said. “An investment in libraries is an investment in our community and families.”

Pictured at top: From left are Michael Stepp, strategic communications officer at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County; state Rep. Lauren McNally, D-59th; Aimee Fifarek, director and CEO of the PLYMC; Jim Wilkins, executive director and fiscal officer of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library; and Eric Taggart, director of Rodman Public Library in Alliance. (Facebook | Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.