F.A.Q.

 

Why does the library need a levy?

For 100 years Paulding County has had a library. The public library matters to the citizens of Paulding County. Because of decreased funding, the Board of Trustees has made a choice to fund the library through property taxes. The levy will cost a taxpayer that owns a $100,000 home $52.50 per year (about $1 per week) and provide the library with $480,000. This levy will go directly to funding the library and provide quality 21^st century library service to all citizens.

I thought libraries in Ohio were funded by the state?

The Public Library Fund (PLF) distributed by the state of Ohio accounts for 50% of the funding for the Paulding County Carnegie Library system, which manages four locations and a bookmobile. Alongside continued grant seeking, a local levy is the only other viable option for continued funding for the library and its branches. Charging fees to borrow books and other services could: 1. Cause the library to lose its eligibility to receive public funding. 2. Would go against the community’s goal for the library which is to eliminate barriers and offer free services for knowledge and growth.

Why was the millage rate less than the November 2009 levy?

The library board and staff listened to voters in the last election and are responding with a reduced millage ask for this November. We have taken a long and responsible look at our expenses and have made the appropriate cuts for this November 4, 2014 levy rate. We feel that while we will not be able to do as much, we can still run consistent, quality library services county-wide at the reduced millage.

What are you doing to cut costs and be fiscally responsible?

Our board and staff already do a great job of doing much with little money, but, in response to the recent levy failure, we have looked again at where we can reduce spending even more:

1. Building Maintenance: Over the past few years the board has completed many projects that preserve and increase efficiencies for the Paulding Carnegie Main Library. Because these expenditures were done in a timely manner, the board has agreed to reduce their budget for building maintenance and upkeep.

2. Increased Efficiencies: The library is seeing even better energy savings than contractors predicted for lighting replacements that were done recently. This money can now be used for other operational costs.

3. Staff Savings: Nearly $30,000 in savings has been realized due to the combining of job descriptions. This means more work for current staff, but adds to our operational budget.

Why do so many people work at the library?

The Paulding Library system is staffed at its lowest levels in over a decade. Current staffing levels often mean that only one staff member is present per branch and several jobs have been combined to reduce hirings in the last few years. A library, like any other business or community agency, needs paid workers to run effectively and efficiently. And, just like every other business, much more goes on behind the scenes than most people realize. For every book on the shelf there must be people specially trained to choose, review, order, catalog, distribute, shelve, recommend, find and check out. For each program there is training, planning, scheduling, performing and supervision.

 

Can’t volunteers just staff the library?

While each of our libraries does use volunteers for special projects, we, like every other library in Ohio hires and pays professionals. If we were not staffed adequately we would run the risk of losing our state funding, which accounts for nearly 50% of our budget and of offering unreliable library services. The Board of Trustees and management continue to make staffing decisions based on providing service to children, young adults, seniors, and adults.

 

Why do we have a bookmobile, when no other counties around us do?

We are very proud and happy that we do and so are the folks that use it every week. To properly serve Paulding County’s rural, widespread population, the library board chose to take the fiscally responsible approach of running a library bookmobile, rather than building more branches in the county.

Paulding County is unique in Northwest Ohio. Our rural, largely agricultural population is contained in several small pockets spread widely throughout the county. In comparison, Defiance County has three very distinct populated areas: Defiance, Sherwood, and Hicksville. Because of this our citizens face a unique challenge: visiting a library several miles away during open hours is often not an option. But, whether or not it is convenient for them to visit a library, we are still charged with providing services to them. Rather than build several small branches which would need to be completed, stocked and staffed, the library board decided to be more fiscally responsible and host bookmobile services for the county.

 

Are libraries still needed in the 21^st century/with the internet/with e-Books?

Contrary to what many people may think, there is still a large part of the population that cannot afford regular, reliable access to Internet services, books, computer software, movies and educational programs. Public libraries offer the one place in our communities where anyone can walk in and receive help finding a job, teaching their child to read, find resources for school and work projects, and continue to learn and grow.

Whenever anyone in Paulding County uses a Paulding County Carnegie Library service, you benefit because they are receiving the help and assistance they need without having to rely on outside financial assistance.