Ohio economists: Cutting library funding will reduce ‘human capital,' hurt the economy
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
PARMA HEIGHTS, OH — JANUARY 26: Ukrainians Marta and Taras Chaban who fled the violence of the war pose for a portrait at the library where they take English classes twice a week, January 26, 2023, at the Cuyahoga County Public Library - Parma Heights Branch, in Parma Heights, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal)
A panel of economists overwhelmingly said that if federal and state cuts to public library funding become reality, it will harm 'human capital' — knowledge and skill that can be used as an economic resource. A smaller majority said it would also reduce the state's economic output.
The budget proposed by the Republican-controlled Ohio House would spend almost $91 million less on public libraries than the draft proposed by Gov. Mike DeWine, reports the Ohio Library Council.
'Additionally, the Ohio House changed how library funding is allocated,' the library council said last month. 'Instead of receiving 1.7% of the state's General Revenue Fund (GRF)—as established in permanent law—the Public Library Fund (PLF) would become a line-item appropriation. This change could put future library funding at greater risk, as line-item appropriations are more vulnerable to elimination.'
In addition, a group led by Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has moved to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal grant-making agency with a budget of $290 million a year.
Benjamin Franklin in 1731 'invented the library as we know it,' Smithsonian Magazine reported last year. That's when he founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, which was cheap enough for average people to join and improve themselves.
Franklin himself was self-taught and would go on to be the most famous American in the world. He knew that access to books and other materials had vast potential as an improving, democratizing force.
'These libraries have improved the general conversation of the Americans,' Smithsonian Magazine quoted Franklin as saying. And they 'made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries.'
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
In 1833, the first completely tax-supported library opened in New Hampshire. Between 1886 and 1919, industrialist Andrew Carnegie put up money to open more than 1,600 public libraries, then nearly half of the free public libraries in the United States. More than 100 of the Carnegie libraries opened in Ohio.
'A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people,' the Ohio History Connection quotes Carnegie as saying. 'It is a never failing spring in the desert.'
As did Franklin, Carnegie believed that public libraries were fundamental to a functioning democracy.
'There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the free public library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration,' he said.
Not able to afford college, future President Harry Truman was a voracious reader of American history. He later claimed that by the time he was 14, he had read every book in the Independence, Mo., Public Library.
'Not all readers become leaders,' Truman said. 'But all leaders must be readers.'
In 2025, public libraries offer more than books. They're an important economic resource, especially for underserved Americans, the American Library Association said last month.
'Public libraries are essential infrastructure in every American community, and that especially is so during times of economic uncertainty,' the group said. 'The elimination of federal funding for public libraries will be felt in every community across the country, and particularly in rural areas. Public libraries provide people with job skills training, entrepreneurship support, homeschooling and education materials, and access to food services that are at risk without federal funding. As many people face job reductions and layoffs, there is an increased need for the services libraries provide to help people improve workforce skills.'
In Ohio, Scioto Analysis put several questions about library funding to a panel of 14 economists.
Asked if 'cutting funding from Ohio's public libraries will reduce human capital development of Ohio residents,' 11 said it would, one said it wouldn't and two were uncertain.
In the comments section of the survey, Kevin Egan of the University of Toledo spoke of weekly library visits with his kids.
'Every time we went to the public library it was full of citizens utilizing its resources: many different types of human capital development beyond just reading, including public access to computers for online job applications and resume preparation; study rooms for students to prepare for their classes and do homework, helpful staff to locate whatever you are interested in learning,' Egan wrote.
The only economist who said cutting library funding would not sap human capital was David Brasington of the University of Cincinnati.
'Other sources of information have made libraries redundant or replaced them,' he wrote.
A strong majority of the economists also agreed that 'cutting funding from Ohio's public libraries will reduce statewide economic output in the long run.'
Nine agreed, two disagreed and three were uncertain.
'I'm not clear how much libraries will increase economic output, and it is probably hard to measure, but I'm sure they help at least a little bit,' said Jonathan Andreas of Bluffton University. 'This was one reason Andrew Carnegie spent a large portion of his fortune on libraries.'
Brasington strongly disagreed.
'Libraries are increasingly irrelevant in the information age,' he said.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Braveboy wins special election for new Prince George's County Executive
The Brief A special election is being held in Prince George's County Tuesday as residents decide on the next county executive. The election was triggered by the departure of former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in November. Voters are choosing between two candidates: Democratic State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy and Republican Jonathan White. PRINCE GEORGE'S CO., Md. - Voters headed to the polls in Prince George's County on Tuesday for a special election to choose a new county executive. The race was between two candidates: Democratic State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy and Republican Jonathan White. Polls closed at 8 p.m. Just before 9 p.m., it was announced that Braveboy had won the election and she delivered a victory speech. READ MORE:Prince George's County Election Day: Voters to elect new County Executive Big picture view The election was triggered by the departure of former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, whose move to a higher office — in the U.S. Senate — set off a chain reaction of vacancies and resignations across local government. The winner of the election will serve the remaining two years of Alsobrooks' term. Whoever wins will inherit a series of major challenges. This year alone, Prince George's County has seen the Washington Commanders announce plans to return to D.C., the cancellation of the new FBI headquarters project and confirmation that Six Flags will close at the end of the year. Braveboy previously told FOX 5 that she views these issues as opportunities and is especially concerned about the impact on federal employees in the county. "I recognize how critical the federal government has been to the success of Prince George's County," she said. "But that is not our only success. What we have to do now is shift. We have to pivot, and we have to grow our commercial tax base and bring more industry into Prince George's County." "It affects everything," she added. "It affects also our tax base, because a lot of these federal government employees are also homeowners. They own property here in Prince George's County, so we are very concerned about our federal employees." Like Alsobrooks, Braveboy currently serves as Prince George's County State's Attorney. However, Alsobrooks did not endorse her, instead backing another candidate in the Democratic primary. What they're saying Election officials say they have seen strong turnout through early voting and mail-in ballots. Still, turnout in special elections—especially in June—can be a challenge. But many voters say they believe showing up to the polls is part of their civic duty. "I care about who is going to be our county executive, so it's important as taxpayers as we move along," one voter said. "We have to support our candidates. We have to make sure voting counts. It's a privilege to make sure we do it every year," another voter added. "Democracy. Representation. And in order to have representation, you have to participate," another told FOX 5. Some voters stressed that local elections matter just as much as national ones. "Local elections, in my opinion, are almost more important—or just as important—as voting in national elections," one resident said. "I teach my kids about the election to understand it's our right to vote. It's given to us," said one parent. What's next Braveboy was considered the front-runner in the race and held her rally in Lanham Tuesday night. FOX 5 reached out to Republican Jonathan White, who responded by email that he was not available for an interview.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Voters return to the polls today for general election
TUPELO — Voters will return to the polls today for the final municipal election of the year, with two of Tupelo's seven seats still up for grabs. The polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents from Ward 3 and Ward 5 have their chance to decide who will represent their area for the next four years. In Ward 3, incumbent Republican Travis Beard, a retired teacher, will face Democrat Shirley Hendrix, owner of R&B Specialty Printing. Beard is running for a third full term. Neither opponent had challengers during the April 1 primary elections, which secured their seats without need for voting. In Ward 5, Democrat Candria Lewis and Republican Bentley Nolan both hope to take the seat left vacant when incumbent Republican Councilman Buddy Palmer, who decided not to run for reelection, leaves the council in July. While Nolan defeated two Republican opponents in the primary and subsequent runoff election, Lewis had no primary opposition. Whomever claims the reins for Ward 3 and Ward 5 will join the other candidates who either won in the primary election or ran unopposed. They include Republican Ward 1 Councilman Chad Mims, Republican Ward 2 Councilman Lynn Bryan, Democrat Ward 4 Councilwoman Nettie Davis, Republican Ward 6 Councilwoman Janet Gaston, Democrat Ward 7 Councilwoman Rosie Jones and Republican Mayor Todd Jordan. New terms will begin July 1, giving Palmer one more month as part of the council before becoming councilman emeritus.
Politico
38 minutes ago
- Politico
White House allies ‘disappointed' at Musk's opposition to the megabill
Republican allies close to the White House are privately argue that the former special government employee — who spent Tuesday afternoon blasting the spending bill and threatening to retaliate against its supporters — is opposing the bill because it harms the tech billionaire's business interests. The House-passed megabill represents the president's chief — and potentially only — major legislative priority this Congress. But Musk's opposition suggests that the coalition that vaulted Trump to the White House is still facing internal disagreement over it as it makes its way through the Senate. It marks another dust-up between the MAGA and Tech Right. And it raises the possibility some members face pressure from Musk if they ultimately support it. 'The West Wing is perplexed, unenthused, and disappointed' with Musk, who left the White House to attend to his ailing business empire, according to one White House official, who like others interviewed for this story were granted anonymity to be candid about an ally who spent hundreds of millions to ensconce them in the White House.
