As you all know, here in Ohio Governor Strickland has a new budget plan which cuts funding for many things. The 74% funding cut to charter schools and eSchool was going to effect thousands of people throughout the state.
But just recently I came across another funding cut that will effect many people, and myself personally, is that he plans on cutting funds for Ohio's libraries by 50%! As much as the Governor wants to help, being a teenager I do not understand how this cut would help kids my age. I myself go to the library at least twice a week and I know that there are many people that go to these libraries every day. Many of my friends volunteer at our local libraries and I just turned in my application to get a job at the one in my neighborhood.
Only a few months ago my library started having an afternoon homework station where kids between the grades of 1-6 could come and work on their homework independently or with the help of a librarian. If funding is cut how would my library be able to continue this helpful and effective program?
This is what worries me. All of these libraries in Ohio have great programs, activities, and not to mention beautiful and creative facilities. With only half of the funding they receive right now how will they be able to maintain their books, facilities, and programs?
I came to realize that when there is something exciting going on at my local library many people show up. Sometimes when they have movie days where they project a popular movie onto a screen, or when my library manages to get a famous author to come and sign their books many people show up.
This year the summer reading game that my library does must be a big hit because when I went to sign up for it they had to give me a smaller game board to fill out because they had run out of the larger ones due to the large number of people participating.
I believe this none of this would be possible if the current funding cut to libraries stays in the Governor's new budget plan.
Although I am just one teenager, I believe that if I apply myself I can have a strong voice. But I also know that I have many friends and family behind me. I believe that we can help prevent this funding cut if we keep e-mailing the legislators asking them to consider the consequences that would result from this cut and ask them to remove this cut from the budget plan.
