Dear Editor:
While the library appreciates your impassioned plea for the East Canton Branch of the Stark County District Library, I am concerned that some statements may have contained factual errors and would like to clarify some items.
1. In addition to the East Canton and Community Center branches, the library also leases space in the Lake Community complex and the Plain Community campus, and also the Perry Sippo Branch and the Sandy Valley Branch. We are currently in the middle of long-term leases at these locations.
2. While the cost per circulation may be about average, the cost per square foot at the East Canton Branch is only second in the system to the Community Center Branch.
3. The library funding formula is determined by total square footage, circulation, number of employees, and library visits. Closing larger, busier branches severely impacts the library system's total funding available to all residents of the county.
4. The library received a written offer on December 10 from the Foltz Community Center and is taking it under consideration.
5. Rent alone in 2009 for the library space in the Foltz Community Center was almost double the $10,000 referred to in the article as a means of creating a better library.
6. Regrettably, Eastern Stark County has not been overly supportive of library funding initiatives. This is evidenced by the multiple losses of the Louisville library levy as well as a minority of voters in Osnaburg Township supporting the Stark County District Library's operational levies.
7. The Minerva Public Library does provide public library services in Eastern Stark County, along with Louisville and the Rodman Public Library in Alliance.
8. Public library districts are in fact established through state law in Ohio. An additional public library taxing district may not be established where one already exists.
Cordially,
Linda Dahl
Manager of Public Information
Stark County District Library
715 Market Ave North
Canton, Ohio 44702
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