Ohio Senate Proposes $4 Million Investment in Public Library Buildings
Auglaize County Libraries’ New Bremen branch is one of 15 public libraries to receive OTSCIF funds.
Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Matt Dolan (R-Chargrin Falls) announced the investment of more than $4 million from the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund (OTSCIF) into public library projects around the state. This fund was established under the state’s current operating budget, House Bill 33, passed by the Ohio General Assembly in June of 2023.
A total of $4,033,356 from the OTSCIF will be used to begin repairs on aging library buildings across the state. Projects include emergency HVAC repairs, roof replacements and renovations to interiors and exteriors of library buildings.
“The Ohio Library Council would like to thank the Ohio Senate for recognizing the urgent facility needs of Ohio’s public libraries,” said Michelle Francis, Executive Director of the Ohio Library Council. “At a time when our libraries are receiving less money from the Public Library Fund and facing difficult budget decisions, we are grateful to the Senate for acknowledging our critical infrastructure needs that have resulted from delayed maintenance. Ohio has the highest library use per capita in the nation with more than 7.7 million cardholders. This investment will help public libraries as we start our busiest season of the year and summer reading programs kick off.”
One-Time Strategic Community Investment Funds for Public Libraries
The Senate is addressing urgent facility needs such as roof replacements, HVAC issues, and other emergency repairs to aging library buildings. The public libraries selected to receive the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Funds include:
- Coshocton County District Library
- Dover Public Library
- Euclid Public Library
- Elyria Public Library
- Lepper Library
- North Baltimore Public Library
- Kirtland Public Library
- Napoleon Public Library
- Auglaize County Libraries
- Norwalk Public Library
- Pickaway County Library
- Troy-Miami County Public Library
- The Wagnalls Memorial Library
- Wood County District Public Library
- Wornstaff Memorial Public Library
