JEFFERSON — Carolyn Hansford, a retired Harbor High School teacher, has been a faithful patron at the Henderson Memorial Public Library in Jefferson for more than 43 years.

“I live nearby, so I walk over to the library often,” said Hansford who was visiting the library while the lights were off for five minutes on Friday.

“If the library has to close part of the time it will make it very inconvenient for people who have limited time to visit the library,” she said.

All over the state of Ohio, libraries were demonstrating the possible devastating effect of Gov. Ted Strickland’s proposed extra 30 percent cut of federal funds to Ohio’s libraries by shutting off their lights for five minutes at noon on Friday.

On June 19, Strickland’s plan to reduce funding by a total of 50 percent from last year was announced. Since that day with very little time to react the “Save Ohio Libraries” campaign has done an amazing job at mobilizing patrons to make their voices heard in Columbus.

“I have sent in my e-mails to Representative Deborah Newcomb and Senator Capri Cafaro, I made sure my voice was heard,” said Tina Holden, of Jefferson, who was checking out books for her children after the lights were turned back on inside Henderson Library.

“I am a teacher at Ridgeview Elementary and we rely on the libraries especially during the summer months to keep the kids reading. I am concerned how these cuts will deprive the kids,” Holden said.

Effective June 1, Ohio libraries already suffered a 20 percent cut, which Henderson Memorial Public Library Director Kathleen Jozwiak said is acceptable because of the state of the economy, but an extra 30 percent possibly passing on July 1 will be devastating for all libraries.

“This is the Governor’s proposal and we are asking the legislators not to approve it,” she said. “We feel that a 50 percent cut in library funding is disproportionate.”

The Ashtabula County District Library in Ashtabula, participation was reported quiet as there were not many patrons in the library at noon, but the point was made.

“The lights out at noon was for all libraries to make it clear the impact the Governor’s cuts are going to have, and having the lights out demonstrates that,” said Douglas Anderson, reference coordinator for the library. “More than 90 percent of our library’s funding comes from the state, so this is very scary.”

Beth Baker, of Jefferson, who is a Henderson Memorial Public Library board member agrees.

“This is truly frightening, with the 20 percent we have already looked at cuts across the board,” she said. “We have had wage freezes, and hiring freezes, we always have to look carefully at all of the services we provide.”

There are three ways to cut spending at a library, Baker said.

“Personnel, service hours and materials; we want to stay open and we don’t want to reduce staff or services. Obviously, we may have some really tough decisions to make,” she said.

Unfortunately, the Grand Valley Public Library, in Orwell, is already cutting hours effective July 1, according to a press release.

“With the unsure financial situation all libraries in Ohio are facing with deep projected budget cuts by the Ohio General Assembly, the library trustees are cutting library hours,” according to the press release.

Andover Public Library Director Susan Hill said library hours may need to be cut if the funding is reduced by 50 percent.

“We have already cut everything that is cutable since the 20 percent happened,” Hill said. “Our only choice left is to close up to half of the time and I don’t know what our patrons who rely on us will do.”

Mary Newman, of Jefferson, who has been a Henderson patron for more than 25 years utilizes the library for reference materials and computer use.

“Libraries are part of the bench mark of civilization, and our library is one of the greatest attributes of our town,” she said.

For more information go to www.saveohiolibraries. com