On March 18, representatives from Williams County Public Library traveled to Columbus for the Ohio Library Council’s Library Legislative Day.
They joined public library supporters from across the state to advocate for library funding and share the results of a recent statewide public opinion poll.
Dylan Wagner, Director, and Denver Henderson, Assistant Director, met with Sen. Rob McColley to discuss how the library is serving the Williams County community through services and programs such as community support groups, early literacy storytimes for young children and families, free online learning opportunities including ASL courses, digital resources like Libby and Hoopla that provide ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and music to patrons, and the library’s upcoming Summer Reading Program that encourages reading and learning for children, teens, and adults throughout the summer.
“Public libraries are an essential resource for Ohioans of all ages,” said Wagner. “The latest Ohio Library Council poll confirms what we consistently hear here at home—Ohio residents value their libraries and rely on them for learning, job support, reliable internet access, and everyday needs. State funding through the Public Library Fund (PLF) remains critical to sustaining these services.”
In the most recent state budget, lawmakers changed the PLF from a percentage of the state’s General Revenue Fund to a fixed line-item appropriation.
As a result, Ohio’s public libraries are receiving $25 million less in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 than they did in FY 2025, creating additional challenges for libraries working to meet growing community needs.
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For WCPL, this change is expected to reduce state funding and place additional pressure on WCPL’s operating budget, which supports staffing, materials, technology access, and programming across all of its branches serving communities throughout Williams County.
With more than 7.4 million registered borrowers, Ohio’s public libraries have the second-highest usage rate in the nation. This success reflects the strong partnership between the State of Ohio and local library systems.
For more information, visit the Williams County Public Library or the library’s website at www.mywcpl.org.