10/13/2026
The Ohio Capital Journal recently examined local library levies on the November 3 ballot and the funding challenges facing public libraries across Ohio.
As Ohio Library Council (OLC) Executive Director Michelle Francis explained in the article, local funding is critical to library operations.
“Depending on the library system, the levy may make up 40% of their revenue or more in some cases, so it’s very important and critical,” Francis said.
Libraries, like families and other organizations, are also facing rising costs.
“It’s one of those things, and just like families, entities, and other organizations, libraries have been hit with inflationary costs as well,” Francis noted.
At the same time, changes to the Public Library Fund (PLF) in the last state budget have made local support increasingly important for many library systems. These financial pressures can affect the resources, programs, and services libraries provide to their communities.
Public libraries continue to be valued by Ohioans across the political spectrum. A poll conducted earlier this year found that 90% of Ohio voters surveyed consider public libraries important to their communities. Support extended across party lines, with 83% of Republicans, 85% of independents, and 93% of Democrats saying they believe they receive their money’s worth for the taxes they pay.
Our libraries serve people of all ages and backgrounds, supporting education, workforce development, civic engagement, and lifelong learning. Understanding the funding that sustains these services is an important part of understanding the role libraries play in communities throughout Ohio.
Read the full article by Susan Tebben in the Ohio Capital Journal to learn more about the 16 library levies on the ballot and the challenges facing all of Ohio’s public libraries. The link is in the comments. You can also find the list of library levies on the OLC website.
