Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County raises concerns regarding potential censorship provisions

The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County (PLYMC) along with the Ohio Library Commission (OLC) are sounding the alarm over provisions in the Ohio State Budget that a representative for the library says will not only affect the library's funding, but the content guests have access to.

21 News has already highlighted concerns regarding potential budget cuts, which could put certain library programs at risk. According to Aimee Fifarek, the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County CEO and director, Mahoning County public libraries are expected to receive $550,000 less from the state just in the first year of the budget.

Public libraries across the state are expected to lose $100 million within two years.

Now, library groups are raising the alarm about language in the budget that could restrict access to certain material for guests under 18.

According to the OLC, who represents Ohio's 251 public library systems including PLYMC, a provision in Ohio's budget proposal would require public libraries to segregate material related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression so they are not visible to guests under 18.

"It's an enormous unfunded mandate on top of already a substantial decrease in public library funding," said Fifarek. 

Because the provision is so vague, Fifarek fears a lot of would have to be hidden.

"We would literally have to close down the library, review every piece of material here, code it before we could safety open to people under the age of 18 again," said Fifarek. "Does it mean that there are parts of the library that people under 18 can’t go in? What does that mean, and how do we comply with it? This is not spelled out in this one piece of legislation."

OLC Executive Director Michelle Francis says this language is overly vague and broad and "ultimately unworkable."

"It opens the door to unconstitutional censorship and undermines the core mission of libraries - to provide free and open access to information," Francis said.

Fifarek feels passing the provision would be the start of censorship.

"The fact that this gets enshrined in state law is a first step to making censorship okay. And so what topics will be next?" said Fifarek.

Francis also said that libraries are not meant to act as substitutes for parents and what children and teens read should ultimately be decided solely by their parents or guardians.

In addition to free speech concerns, the OLC says it would be costly for libraries to comply with this law with some library systems estimating to would take up to six years of staff time and millions of dollars to audit and relocate materials.

In fact, the OLC says for libraries with limited square footage, complying would be physically impossible and could result in entire branches needing to become adult-only spaces.

"This provision has no financial impact on the state's balance sheet, but it would force local libraries to spend millions of dollars and years of staff time complying with an unfounded unconstitutional mandate. This is a dangerous overreach that undermines intellectual freedom and punishes the very institutions that provide safe and open spaces for Ohioans of all ages," Francis said.

Fifarek shared the same concern.

"It would mean a vast reduction or closure of small libraries like Sebring, tri-lakes or libraries where you can see front to back." said Fifarek.

OLC and Fifarek are urging Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to veto this provision of the budget. Fifarek is asking people to reach out to DeWine about the provision.