COLUMBUS, Ohio – Representatives from The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library and other libraries across the Lake to River region met with members of the Ohio General Assembly on Wednesday.
They were joined by library leaders and supporters from across the state as part of the Ohio Library Council’s Legislative Day. As a group, they advocated for library funding and shared the results of a recent public opinion poll showing overwhelming support for libraries across Ohio, a news release states.
“Public libraries are an essential resource for Ohioans of all ages,” said Aimee Fifarek, director and CEO of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County. “The latest Ohio Library Council poll shows that across the state, 90% of Ohioans say public libraries are important to their local community and rank among the highest-rated local services. This confirms what we consistently see here at home. Ohio residents value their libraries and rely on them for learning, job support, reliable internet access and everyday needs. State funding through the public library fund remains critical to sustaining these services.”
According to the Ohio Library Council, for every dollar invested in libraries across the state, 4 dollars in value is generated. The OLC poll shows that 87% of Ohioans say they get their money’s worth from library services for the taxes they pay.
In the most recent state budget, lawmakers changed the public library fund from a percentage of the state’s general revenue fund to a fixed line-item appropriation. As a result, Ohio’s public libraries are receiving $25 million less in fiscal year 2026 than they did in fiscal year 2025, creating additional challenges for libraries working to meet growing community needs, the release states.
“We met with our area legislative offices to make sure they understood that fully funding libraries is an economic difference maker in the Valley and the state of Ohio,” said Kim Garrett, executive director of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library. “We also wanted them to understand that according to the recent polling, 9 out of 10 Ohioans stand with us and support their local libraries.”