Last Saturday, Governor Ted Strickland suggested that Ohio Librarians ought to take a pay cut rather than be critical of his budget proposal:
“Other leaders have taken a pay cut,” he said. “I’ve taken a pay cut.”
If this were a debate over a 5% or 10% overall cut in library funding, then yes, the option of cutting salaries could make a difference for libraries providing services. We aren’t facing that level, however. If all public library librarians were to forgo their entire salaries, it still wouldn’t prevent the closure of many libraries and the gutting of services at most of the rest.
This suggestion is the equivalent of suggesting that by clipping coupons and buying store brand items, an unemployed family could avoid foreclosure. It just doesn’t make sense.
The Ohio budget mess has become entangled in a mass of politics. Politicians all seem to have a position; nobody seems to have a solution. A valid and fair solution is going to hurt, but it needs to be found (and quickly).
from Save Ohio Libraries
Note (added 9 July 2009): As this post was quoted by American Libraries yesterday, I thought it best to reiterate that, as is stated in the About section, this blog is not affiliated with my current place of employment. I am responsible for the opinions expressed in the posts, as well as the topics discussed. I do not feel that I was either misquoted or misattributed, but that it could be misinterpreted.
