After seeing a double-digit decrease in state funding, Wornstaff Memorial Public Library in Ashley has cut hours, cut staffing levels and cut purchases.

Now with few things left to cut, the library is asking voters in Ashley and Oxford Township to approve operating levies for the first time. The requests will appear on the May 4 ballot. If both levies pass, they will provide $71,083 in annual funding to Wornstaff library over a five year period, essentially restoring the library’s funding to its 2001 level.

“This is to help resume services and normal operations,” said Elizabeth Barker, Wornstaff library director. “Like anyone else, when you reduce your budget you can only get along for so long before problems build up.”

Barker said it has been a struggle “to basically keep the library open.”

Wornstaff, which has more than 3,800 registered borrowers, relies almost entirely on state funding to operate. The library has seen its funding gradually decrease over the past several years, including an approximate 18 percent drop last year due in part to cuts enacted by the Ohio General Assembly to balance the state budget.

To compensate, the library is now closed an extra day of the week, staff have seen their hours cut by 30 percent and new materials are being purchased solely by donations and grants, Barker said.

Wornstaff, however, is not alone in their efforts. Similar cutbacks are occurring at libraries across the state, according to Doug Evans, executive director of the Ohio Library Council.

“Ohio libraries are dealing with a significant cut in funding at a time when foot traffic is beyond comparison,” Evans said. “We always see library patronage increase during a downturn in the economy.”

Busy libraries are increasingly turning to voters to fund operations.

In November, 38 Ohio libraries asked voters to approve levies and 30 of those were brand new — both of which are an all-time high. About 80 percent of the library levies passed that fall, which is consistent with prior years, according to Evans.

Evans said media publicity surrounding newly-enacted state funding cuts to libraries helped the levies pass in November. He is not so sure how voters will receive them now.

“Time will tell how successful the May issues are. We hope public sentiment is still there and people are wiling to increase their taxes,” Evans said.

Two library levies have been approved by Delaware County voters during the past year. In November, a levy for Sunbury’s Community Library passed with 53 percent of the vote. In May, a levy for Delaware County District Library passed with 51 percent of the vote.

Barker said she worries voters in Ashley and Oxford may be confused about the library levies previously approved in the county and think they are already being taxed to pay for them.

“We want to stress that people in our area did not vote for those other levies and do not directly support them,” she said.

With state funding for libraries projected to further decrease this year, Wornstaff library is hopeful area voters will approve its levies. If passed, owners of a $100,000 home would pay an extra $55.13 a year to support the library.

“If they do not (pass), the implication is that we still would not be able to buy any materials, we would lose some staff people, we may possibly reduce hours more and we wouldn’t have too much to offer the public,” Barker said.

bbullock@gelgazette.com