The cuts come as the state is looking to slash billions from its next state budget.

"I've been here with public libraries for 17 years and it's never been this bad," said Lynda Murray of the Ohio Library Council.

Seventy percent of libraries statewide depend solely on funding to operate, including Southwest Public Libraries in Grove City.  Every program there could end, Fortney reported.

"Southwest Public Libraries will disappear as people know it," said Amy Shaw, of Southwest Public Libraries.

The Summer Reading Initiative could become a casualty.

"That would be sad because I love to read and I look forward to this every summer and so do a lot of teens here," said Lauren Rivera, who uses the program.

Audrey Fouts brings her grandchildren to the library.

"The Summer Reading Club is really fun," Fouts said.  "I get to learn more and get to catch up on my reading during summer when I don't do it during school."

Children are not the only ones affected, Fortney reported.

The library business booms when unemployment climbs.  People come in to use the free Internet in hopes of finding work.

"We've served over 8,500 people in just four months looking for jobs using libraries for that purpose," said Pat Losinski of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

Services outside the libraries across Ohio could be affected, from bookmobiles to more rural areas.

"The expense of running a bookmobile now, especially with gas prices, is very high and I think for many libraries would be one of the first on the cutting chopping block."

Southwest Public Libraries has already cut its hours of operation and is prepared to cut months of operation, Fortney reported.

The Ohio Library Council is mobilizing patrons to stop the budget cuts.  They are encouraging people to call their state representatives as part of a program called "Save Our Libraries."

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