Politics & Government

Cuyahoga County Public Library Would Face Cuts Under Proposed State Budget

The Brecksville branch had to shut its doors on Sundays during the last round of budget cuts.

In 2009, the Cuyahoga County Public Library dealt with a $14 million shortfall prompted by state budget cuts by reducing staff, increasing late fines, slashing money used for purchasing books and other materials and closing most branch locations on Sundays.

The downward funding trend looks likely to continue. Gov. John Kasich's two-year budget proposal, released earlier this week, would continue cutting state public library funding by 5 percent in 2012 and 2013. Statewide, could be more than $160 million during the two years.

The Cuyahoga County Public Library receives about 30 percent of its funding from the state, said spokesman Robert Rua. How the system, which includes a , deals with the possibility of less state money this year and next is still unknown. What will happen at individual branch locations -- the system serves nearly 50 communities and has 28 buildings -- is even more fuzzy.

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"There are still unanswered questions," Rua said. "This is a time when public libraries are busier than ever, so it does put us in a tight spot.

"For now, we'll see what unfolds," he added. "There's too many unknowns."

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All but seven branches were closed on Sundays for a portion of 2009 and 2010, Rua said. The Brecksville branch was one of the locations closed on Sundays.

The library system was able to restore the Sunday hours in all of its branches in September 2010, Rua added.


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