The library is one of the few services provided by the government that actually works well, and adds value to one's life. To cut library funding is awful, and typical of our politicians who prove how little they care about the little people.

I wouldn't be able to do anything. I'm in college, can't afford the internet at home and I am ont always on campus to use that internet service. Closing the libraries is just plain stupid as it will leave a of kids with little headstart in school.

No, we could not do without our neighborhood library. Our community library is not a luxury; it is an essential part of my family’s value system. Our libraries are places that make their patrons and their community better. In an increasingly individualized, segmented society, the library is a place to go and understand that the world is so much more than your own interests and beliefs. Not many other places cross socio-economic lines to provide services and programs universally needed and used. The library is a place that people looking for jobs in a recessed economy stand side by side with patrons looking for movies and entertainment without spending money from their shrinking budgets. And the library is a place where businesses small and large go for information and programs to help them grow and prosper. British author John F. Budd writes, “The dissemination of knowledge is one of the cornerstones of civilization.” Libraries are as critical to our society as schools and churches and are vital to keeping an informed electorate and consequently, maintaining a democracy. Ohio is at an important crossroads in its education and economy. Eliminating libraries, one significant resource that helps people help themselves, will surely plunge the state deeper into recession and erode consumer confidence even further. Please contact your state senators and representatives and our governor to keep our families and communities strong.

Go ahead! Kick us when we're down! Take away all the free information that will help us get back on our feet. Thanks alot!!!

It is proof that we needed change. It's your good ole boy that got us here.

Some idiots wanted Change. Well, it's here. Enjoy.

I am an employee of Middletown public library. I see first had how much have a public library means for all our patrons. WE are a vital lifeline to education, job hunting information and family recreation in a down economy. Where else can you check out books, dvd’s, audio books, cd’s, cd roms, video games and use the internet all for free? By Governor Strickland cutting our finding the public that misses the wonderful things that we have to offer when it comes to materials and programs. WE are a haven for learning for the young and elderly alike. In this economy with everything going up WE need to provide these free services to make living just a little bit easier. On Friday, June 19 2009 at a Governor Strickland proposed 6 last minute changes to the State Budget. One of these changes proposes that Ohio public libraries that are currently dealing with a 20% reduction in state funding will receive an additional 30% cut. Ohio public libraries for the next two years (beginning July 1) will receive over a 53% reduction in state aid that comes out to about 227 million dollars. It upsets me as a citizen of Ohio that our governor can’t see how important the library’s as a vital part of our communities. By doing this I feel that the governor is letting everyone down. I’ve seen firsthand how vital the library is to everyone.I don’t know what a lot of students will do without the recourse that we have to help them learn everything they want and need to know, for homework as well to just expand their minds.to print off information or use word to type out a essay. People who have lost their jobs come in to use our word processing computers, make and print there résumés and go on the internet computers to look for a job. Daily people ask me where the medical books are or where the financial books are, or even the do it yourself books young adults have been coming in and checking out our books on colleges, financial aid, and scholarships.

Cutting the library fund is going to hurt kids, like me, education. We go to the libraries to do research and do homework. closing them would hurt our education.

We cannot let the library branches close!!!! We need to insure ALL citizens have access to books, internet access, computers, research... Stop dumbing down America! We must make education the top priority and closing librarys is not the answer!!!!

Our library system is one of the county's treasures. Where else can one have FREE access to books, videos, music? If it comes to a ballot issue, vote YES! Otherwise, maybe there's another way to hang onto our libraries -- charge the Reds and Bengals higher rent on those idiotic stadiums!