Report: Ohio Libraries Call on Governor DeWine to Veto Budget Provision to Move Books on Gender, Identity

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Central Ohio libraries are asking Gov. Mike DeWine to veto a budget proposal that would require public libraries to cordon off materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity in adult sections.

The proposal is part of House Bill 96, the state’s two-year budget that lawmakers approved on June 25. The budget passed with support from most Republicans and no Democrats. It now heads to DeWine, who must sign it before July 1. However, DeWine can veto individual items he doesn’t support.

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The proposed state budget also changes the way Ohio libraries get funding. The Ohio Library Council says the budget threatens “both the financial stability and mission of Ohio’s public libraries.”

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For years, Ohio has paid for public libraries with a percentage of its total revenue put into the Public Library Fund. DeWine wanted to increase that percentage to give libraries $1.08 billion over the next two years.

Instead, lawmakers set aside $990 million for libraries over two years as a budget line item. While this is less money than DeWine wished to give them, there is debate over whether that is a cut from current funding.

That’s because the budget also includes a provision that would require public libraries to segregate materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, and guarantee that said materials are not visible to minors.

Learn More, Read the Complete Article (about 900 words)

See Also: Statement: OLC Raises Alarm Over State Budget Cuts and Provision Segregating Materials (via Ohio Library Council)

Filed under: Funding, Libraries, News, Public Libraries