On Monday, May 12, Aimee Fifarek, PLYMC Director & CEO, testified before the Ohio Senate Education Committee in defense of library funding and continued investment in the Valley. As part of a delegation consisting of several Ohio Library Leaders, as well as representatives from the Ohio Library Council, Fifarek spoke out against dramatic changes to how libraries are funded in Ohio that are currently under consideration in the State Senate.
Earlier in April, the Ohio House passed its budget which ends dedicated funding for the Public Library Fund (PLF), which funds nearly half of PLYMC’s annual budget. These drastic changes are now under consideration in the Ohio Senate. Fifarek said in her testimony:
“The PLF IS the breath that gives life to Ohio’s public libraries and makes us exceptional. Drastically changing the funding model for our public libraries threatens that exceptionalism. By continuing to protect the Public Library Fund as it stands in current law and providing a modest increase from 1.7% to 1.75% of the General Revenue Fund, you will safeguard our ability to evolve with our community and ensure that libraries will have the resources necessary to meet the needs of our families.”
Currently, the PLF is funded by 1.7% of the General Revenue Fund (GRF). Earlier this year, The Governor proposed a slight increase to 1.75% of the GRF. But the House chose to end this approach to funding libraries in Ohio entirely and replace it with a line-item appropriation. This means that state legislators could vote to end all library funding in the future, resulting in dramatic cuts to library services across the state. As it stands in current law funding is guaranteed, and libraries can continue to provide excellent service to which Ohioans have come to expect from their libraries. Now it is in the hands of the Senate to decide what to do next.
Fifarek also stated, “This state has historically invested in our libraries because we know that investing in libraries is investing in the community, and our future” and ended her testimony as follows, “I urge this committee to uphold the long tradition of public support for libraries in Ohio, so that our patrons, your constituents, can continue to pursue a lifetime of literacy.”
Along with this Release, you will find a copy of Aimee’s Testimony to the Ohio Senate Education Committee. Video of the Testimony and Questions can be found here: https://ohiochannel.org/video/ohio-senate-education-committee-5-12-2025 at around the 2 hour and 43 minute mark.
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The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (PLYMC) has served the Mahoning Valley since 1880 when the Youngstown Library Association was officially created. With 14 branches across Mahoning County, including Main Library in downtown Youngstown, PLYMC is well known for its signature services and programs like Summer Discovery and 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. PLYMC serves our communities by preparing children for kindergarten, promoting early literacy, assisting job seekers, connecting Valley residents to technology, and providing resources for small businesses.