The five branches of the Public Libraries of Cincinnati and Hamilton County scheduled to shut September 1 have been granted a temporary reprieve to allow public hearings on the closures.
“We’ve considered many ways to keep the libraries open but this is the best we can come up with,” Board President Bailey Turner announced to dozens of residents who packed the Greenhills branch July 22. When asked how he could be persuaded to change his mind, Turner replied, “Is there any possibility of anybody raising any money?”
Ohio Senate President Richard Finan (R-Evendale) warned the crowd that the delay didn’t mean the branches would stay open indefinitely, the Cincinnati Post reported July 23. “Our phones have rung off the hook over the last several days and we wanted to be able to let you give input,” he said.
Declining state income tax revenues are forcing the board to slash $4.3 million from its 2002 budget, according to the Post. Officials have said the closures will save the library $1.5 million, with an additional $700,000 saved by cutting supplies and contracted services and maintaining an ongoing hiring freeze.
Posted July 29, 2002.