Budget Cuts Will Affect Hours and Library Materials
Due to the recent budget cuts imposed by the state’s 2009-2011 budget, Bliss Memorial Public Library will be making some changes in hours and materials. Beginning September 1, the library will be opening at 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays. Our closing times will remain the same as before for each day, but on Saturdays, we will close at 12 noon all year round.
Hourly staff will work less hours and salary staff wages will be reduced.Also, the number of books, DVDs and books on CD that are usually ordered will be reduced. We will still receive the books from best selling authors, the monthly paperback books, the western books, the quarterly Avalon hardback romances, mysteries and westerns and the children’s standing order books from BWI. However, additional fiction, non-fiction and children’s books will not be ordered.
These changes are necessary and we know that it will inconvenience many of you. However, please be patient with us and accept what needs to be done in order to keep the library open. We will try to meet all of your needs and always remember that we can interlibrary loan items that we do not have.
NEW Hours of Operation
Starting Sept. 1st, the hours of operation for Bliss Memorial Public Library will be changed to the following.
Mondays 11 AM to 8 PM
Tuesdays 11 AM to 8 PM
Wednesdays 11 AM to 8 PM
Thursdays 11 AM to 5 PM
Fridays 11 AM to 5 PM
Saturdays 9 AM to 12 PM
We thank our patrons for their patience and understanding during this time of transition. We will work to ensure that our level of service to our patrons will not diminish despite our cuts in hours.
Reading Rocks Rolls to a Close
Thanks to all who participated in this year's adult summer reading program, Reading Rocks! We had such a good time and gave away loads of prizes. What did these folks do to win? Just read. That's right, just read.
Weekly Winners
Annette Rombach, Denise Pfaff, and Mary Rice
Jill Turek, Kasi Turek, and Laura Kagy
Joanne Widman, Bev Gabel and Karen Schultz
Don Shade, Janis Weasner, and Sara Kelbley
Dee Frankart, Muriel Colatruglio, and Mary Harpster
All the tickets submitted throughout the WHOLE summer were put into the drawing for the Finale Prizes. Those winners included the following folks.
Grand Prize
Crystal Patrick, $50 gift certificate from the Bloomville Market
Second Place Prize
Karen Schultz, a relaxation desk-top fountain
Helen Depinet, a 3-Piece Pillar Candle Holder Set
Kids Got Creative at the Library
Monday, July 20th saw our children's summer reading program, Get Creative at your Library, wind down. The end-of-summer party was hosted at the library and featured a special program led by Andria Marquis, the Ottawa Sandusky Seneca County Solid Waste Management District education specialist. Program attendees designed and built robots out of recycled materials. The contest winners were Hayley Cook (1st), Tyler Turek (2nd), and Megan McCoy (3rd).
All participants in this year's summer reading program were automatically entered into the End-of-Summer Prize drawing. If you missed the party be sure to stop by the library to pick up your certificate and see what you might have WON!
Don't forget, all of the reading programs, from pre-school through adult, are made possible through the generous donations of the Friends of the Library.
Library Funding UPDATE
The 2010-2011 state budget has finally been passed and library funding will be reduced another 11%. That is good news, compared to the Governor's proposal of 30%, but this reduction will still cause Bliss Library to make some changes and cuts. We are discussing what these cuts will be and we will strive to keep as many services and programs as we can.
As soon as the board approves the changes at the August 13th meeting, we will let everyone know what they are via the web site and the newsletter, which will be sent out in mid-August.
The Latest on Budget Talks from June 29th
The General Assembly has agreed to pass an interim budget that will fund all state programs at 70% of their current level through the 7th of July. The Assembly is currently deadlocked over a proposal to legalize slot machines at seven horse tracks around the state.
We were hoping for a resolution of the budgetary conflict by the end of the day today; however, we will all have to wait another week to see what the final results will be. Thank you for your patience. We will update this site as more information comes to us.
Proposed Library Funding Cuts--UPDATE
First, we at Bliss Memorial Library would like to thank EVERYONE who phoned and emailed the governor and his or her state senators and representatives. We all very much appreciate your willingness to speak up and share your support for libraries with those making the final state budget decisions.
Second, we want you to know that our voices have been HEARD. According to the Ohio Library Council, many legislators reported receiving more than 10,000 e-messages and telephone calls from library supporters in just one 24-hour period. The Governor's e-mail and phone lines were shut down at many points throughout the week due to the volume of incoming messages. The effort to save Ohio libraries was the lead story in every media market across the entire state for most of the week. Materials were distributed, door-to-door campaigns were held, e-mails were sent to family and friends, and we witnessed the powerful impact of social network sites, bulletin boards, blogs, and Twitter." Well done, everyone! Many legislators across the state are speaking out in support of public libraries and all the services we provide.
At this point, we have made our opinions known, and we must await the outcome. The Conference Committee, those in charge of suggesting amendments and creating the final budget bill, will meet throughout the weekend. They expect to have the budget ready for a vote on Monday, June 29th.
We will update the web site as the budget situation continues to develop.
URGENT--Your Help is Needed!
June 22, 2009 by Shelly Miller
Last Friday, Governor Strickland proposed a 50% REDUCTION in library funding in the State of Ohio. These proposed reductions are set to start JULY 1st! We need your help. If these reductions are allowed to take place, Bliss Library might be forced to close our doors.
Please call the governor's office. Please call your state represenatative or state senator. Let them that reductions of this size for your local library are UNACCEPTABLE. Let them know how much you love your local library.
Governor's Office 614-466-3555
Representative Terry Boose, District 58
(614) 466-9628 district58@ohr.state.oh.us
Representative Jeffry McClain, District 82
(614) 644-6265 district82@ohr.state.oh.us
Representative Jeff Wagner, District 81
(614) 466-1374 district81@ohr.state.oh.us
Sentator Karen Gillmor, District 26
(614) 466-8049 SD26@senate.state.oh.us
Senator Sue Morano, District 13
(614) 644-7613 senatormorano@maild.sen.state.oh.us
