Bowling Green rally pushes for ‘yes' vote on Wood County library levy

Beverly Elwazani, left, and her daughter Layan Elwazani, 16, both of Bowling Green, sign up to volunteer to help in the effort to pass the levy for the Wood County District Public Library at Monday's rally. JETTA FRASER Enlarge

BOWLING GREEN — Holding signs that read “Keep the doors open” and “I miss my library,” about 50 supporters of the Wood County District Public Library gathered outside the building's locked doors Monday to drum up enthusiasm for an operating levy on the November ballot.

“Today marks the beginning of yet another week-long furlough. This is the third in two years and the second for this year,” Barbara Ruland, president of the Friends of the Library, told those gathered. “In my opinion, this is a trend we cannot allow to continue.”

Library trustees seek a first-ever five-year, 0.8-mill operating levy after two years of state budget cuts that have forced the library to reduce staff, hours, services, and purchases of materials. The levy would raise about $1 million a year.

“I'm sure all those of you who are regulars have noticed that the shelves reserved for new books are pretty bare right now,” Ms. Ruland said. “That's because the library can only afford about half as much on new books as it was two years ago.”

About 50 employees, retirees, trustees, and everyday patrons turned out for Monday's rally where members of the levy committee signed up volunteers willing to take buttons, yard signs, and a pro-levy message to voters.

The levy will be decided by voters in the Bowling Green school district, the Wood County por-tions of the Anthony Wayne, Gibsonburg, Lake, Lakota, McComb, and Patrick Henry school districts, and the portions of the Perrysburg and Fostoria school districts that are in Wood County but outside the city limits.

The library district operates the main library in Bowling Green, a branch in Walbridge, and a bookmobile that travels around the county.

Several library users made pitches for the levy at the podium or simply by holding signs.

Five-year-old Trygg Magelssen held a cardboard sign on which he used crayons to write, “I [heart] the libare.”

Sixteen-year-old Layan Elwazani said the library has been a huge part of her growing-up years in Bowling Green.

“I have a little brother and a little sister and the thing that upsets me most is they will never be able to go to the library on Sundays with my Dad like I used to,” she said, referring to the fact that Sunday hours were eliminated as part of budget cuts.

Betty Winslow said the library is different things at different times for her: an office where she works, the best “free” bookstore she can imagine, and “an oasis where I sit and read in peace and quiet where the phone can't ring and my kids can't find me.”

Fourteen-year library employee Kristin Wetzel said before the rally that the wage and benefit cuts have been difficult, but what really concerns her is the cut in hours and new library materials at a time when patrons need the library the most.

If approved, the levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $24.50 a year. Ms. Ruland called that a bargain.

“What's the last thing you bought for $25? Lunch for two maybe? One hard-back book? Maybe you paid for your Internet service for one month?” Ms. Ruland said. “So without even considering the benefit to the rest of the community, I submit that you can't get a better bargain for your entertainment and information dollar than supporting the library levy.”

Not long after the rally ended, Sean Jones walked up to the library and read the closed sign on the glass doors.

Unaware of the furlough week, he was planning to spend some quiet time at the library studying for a promotional exam. He said he'd recently shown up on a Sunday with the same intention, only to find the library closed.

Still, Mr. Jones said, he's not sure how he'll vote on the levy.

“It's tough because everyone's asking for more levies, and it doesn't seem like government can function on what they have,” he said. “It's frustrating. Everybody's strapped.”

Contact Jennifer Feehan at:

jfeehan@theblade.com

or 419-724-6129.