Saturday we received news of the Governor's budget proposal. Among other cuts is a 50% reduction in funding to Ohio libraries. Over 70% of libraries in Ohio receive their funding solely from the state; that is, they don't get local funding. If the cuts go through, half our branches could close. Two-hundred employees could lose their jobs. I'm less worried for myself - I hedged my bets a few months ago when I switched to part time and picked up another class - than I am for the librarians who have dedicated their lives to this organization. The budget goes to a vote on June 30, and the effects will be harsh and immediate.
The list of proposed cuts is frightening: Ohio libraries aren't the only institution that would be negatively impacted.
Iran - the media have finally caught up with events on the street.
Tired.
(By the way - watching a surreal episode of South Park in which all the guys in town turn into metrosexuals. They even have a metro pride parade. At the end of the episode, the wives beat the men from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," who turn out to be crab people).
1 comment:
Here I am musing/whining about jury duty and here you are writing about things that really matter -- life and death in D.C., life, death and political freedom in Iran, libraries and people's livelihoods.
You write beautifully. Hope you're able to somehow dodge a 50 percent budget cut. Some reduction is understandable in these times, but 50 percent seems pretty extreme.
Here in Oregon, the governor is taking on fellow Democrats by vetoing a school funding bill that he says cuts too deeply into the state's budget reserves. Now he's got to try to get Republicans to help sustain a veto. Weird.
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