Current 1 mill levy provides 26.5% of Bluffton Public Library annual revenue

The Bluffton Public Library has been a part of the Bluffton community since 1935. As Bluffton has grown, the library has grown with it - moving from the high school to Main St. in 1986 and expanding the building and services in 2004. While most know the history of the library, I’d like to take this opportunity to explain how the library exists today, in 2026. 

Bluffton Public Library currently has a 1 mil tax levy in place, which supports everyday operations.  This came at a time when our library so desperately needed the support.

Like many other organizations in Ohio, the library received a severe cut in State funding in the early 2000s, and State funding was further reduced in 2012. In 2025, the State legislature changed the Public Library Fund from a percentage of the General Revenue Fund to a line-item appropriation, which puts library funding in a precarious position and $10.3 million less than last year. Ohio public libraries do not receive funding from city income taxes, county sales taxes, school district income taxes, state revenue from casino taxes, or state revenue from marijuana taxes - the primary revenue sources for Ohio libraries are the Public Library Fund and local property tax levies as approved by voters.  

Library administration and staff continue to work diligently to avoid reducing weekly service hours while operating with levy funding based on 2006. The library’s levy has not grown with inflation or increased property values, meaning the amount collected is considerably less than 1 mil. The library's 1 mil, ten-year levy (passed by voters in 2006, renewed by voters in 2016, ending in 2026) now provides 26.5 percent of the library's annual revenue. Library services would have been drastically cut if the levy had not been in place when the economy declined in 2009 and would continue to be drastically cut today. The current levy the library has been receiving is 20 years old, and with declining income and public library funding being changed to a line item, along with the overall increase of costs, the support from the levy is more important than ever. 

How have we avoided cutting hours and services thus far?

We identified numerous opportunities to reduce expenses, streamline processes, restructure staff workloads, re-negotiate contracts, and otherwise operate more efficiently. In addition, both the library and its Friends group increased fundraising efforts to avoid further cuts in new materials. Local businesses and community members continue to provide priceless support-- both financially and by volunteering their time and talent. The library also closes additional days before and after some holidays to save on energy and staffing. 

Even with these efforts, the library levy is still essential to keeping the library’s doors open to its community.

Because of the community’s generosity during the last levy, the library has sustained a collection of over 48,350 in-house materials, and provided access to databases and the Ohio Digital Library. Bluffton Public Library patrons checked out 96,928 items in 2025! Last year the library hosted 323 programs and events, ranging from school visits to storytime, early literacy and summer programming, basic technology assistance and adult book discussions, community-fostered events, local music, and much more. Over 4,790 children, students, adults, and seniors walk through the doors every month. Levy funds support the operation of the library. Materials like books, equipment such as computers, programs, staffing, and library hours are all things directly affected by the operating budget each year.

Our community impact continues to flourish.

The library is one of only a small number of community spots to offer free WiFi and had 3,869 users,as well as 1,227 logins to our public computers last year alone. In addition to our in-house collection, we also fulfilled 27,156 requests for materials in 2025, by borrowing materials from other libraries within the state consortium. Serving our community outside of the building, we also provide outreach and delivery services to nursing homes and homebound residents within the school district. We provide proctoring for those continuing their education and provide additional support to students after school. Borrowing books and movies from the library or attending a free program helps stretch budgets. Young families utilize library materials, programs, and services to support early literacy in their children, homebound community members still feel connected, and area small businesses take advantage of meeting spaces and work areas.  

As a staff and volunteer base, we put in extra hours, continuously seek to educate ourselves and insure community relevancy, and seek to pour back into our community the support we’ve experienced over the years. We are proud to nurture an atmosphere of continued learning and equality. No matter your age, education, identity, or interests---the library serves as a means of bettering yourself and your community. The Bluffton village is a community that supports education, the arts, fairness, and most importantly, each other. We are proud to share in that tradition and in your stories. Because of community support, the Bluffton Public Library has been in existence since 1935 and looks forward to contributing to building a strong Bluffton for years to come. 

Our library, our community. Together, we are Bluffton Public Library. 

With gratitude, 

Jessica Hermiller 
Director, Bluffton Public Library