One Library for Putnam County?

Letter to the Editor

After reading the information published last week in the Putnam Voice, I am very concerned for the future of our branch libraries throughout Putnam County. It seems that the devastation of the flooding in 2007 has become a huge blank check for the Putnam County Library and they plan to spend all of their insurance money and another $500,000 to build a huge “taj mahal” of a library in our county seat.

We are all very aware of the global recession and the implications of poor money management by individuals and government. Our Putnam County Library has an opportunity to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Would it not make more sense to build a million dollar building and put the other funds towards helping to keep the other branches alive and viable? Just because the money is there does not mean that we need to spend it. If “rules” need to be changed to reallocate some of these funds – then let’s get the rules changed. It is time we return to common sense. If you won $2.7 million dollars in the lottery, would you go out and build a $2.7 million dollar house? No, because then you would not have any money for anything else you wanted to buy. This same principal needs to apply to the library.

Our local Ottoville Branch Library has had their hours cut twice in the last year. It is now only open three days a week – Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. My husband and I moved back to Putnam County in 2006 from the Toledo area because of the great schools and the great communities. One of the great “free” services in each of our great small towns in Putnam County is the library. We need to make certain that these branches remain open and that all residents have access to the services the library provides.

Considering the recent budget cuts that the libraries have sustained, maybe it is time for some out-of-the box thinking to help decrease spending. What if we worked with the local schools to condense the libraries for our outlying communities and move the library into to the school buildings? Many of our communities have gorgeous facilities (at taxpayer expense) that are not being used to their full potential. This would help decrease the maintenance cost for the libraries and would provide additional funds to help staff the libraries after the school day has ended.

I am writing this letter to encourage the citizens of Putnam County to let your voice be heard before the new building is built and they are closing our outlying branches because it is not in the “budget.” I am certain if they move forward with their current plans, it will only be a matter of time before they are out of funding and again cutting services and turning to the taxpayers to beg for additional funding.

Michelle Kortokrax

Ottoville, Ohio