Four New Regionals Bring Brighter Future

On June 22, 2006, four new Regional Library Systems (RLS) were chartered anew or created by amending prior documentation. At this same State Library Board meeting, the State Library Board allocated the funding to the new Regionals. 

These Regionals cover the entire state of Ohio and are truly multi-type, including all Ohio libraries as “geographic” members. This was the final step in the implementation of the plan introduced in Sept. 2005 and which grew out of the question asked at the Regional Library Planning Meeting on April 4, 2005: "In an ideal world, what would regional library systems look like?"

The new Regional Library Systems – SWON Libraries (Southwest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries), NORWELD (Northwest Regional Library System), NEO-RLS (Northeast Ohio Regional Library System) and SERLS (Southeast Ohio Regional Library System) – are entering a new realm of possibilities. The Directors will hold their first meeting on August 2, 2006 to talk about services offered at each Regional and to share ideas on how they might spread services across regional lines to all libraries.   

It has been a long time since the RLS have seen an increase in funding – in fact over the past few biennia they have realized a decrease of more than 44%. This change in their number was necessitated by this decreased funding. But with this change, which was done through a lot of hard work and with sadness in losing three Regional Library Systems, Regionals can begin to work ever more collaboratively to improve services to all libraries, regardless of type or geography. I believe that we can expect a bright future when we are able to achieve this.

We will be creating stronger Regionals through increased services. Increased funding is sure to follow.

Sincerely,
Jo Budler, State Librarian

Regional Service Areas

There are four (4) regional library service areas (Regionals): Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest. These areas are divided along county lines as pictured on the map below.

Funding

The State Library of Ohio's total amount allocated the Regional Library Systems for FY 2009 is $880,638. Each regional receives an average of $220,000.00.

These state dollars are to be used to fund the basics: provide a director, clerk treasurer, CE coordinator, facility rent, utilities and provide technical support to libraries through the Regional.

Services

The primary function of the regional service outlets is to provide and/or host library continuing education.

Special services and products have been developed by individual organizations and Regional Library Systems. Regionals are encourage to develop new models for sharing these services and products which might be of interest to libraries across the state.

Membership

All libraries, of all types, are considered "associate" or "core" members of the Regional Library System service area within which it falls geographically. These libraries have access to core services provided by the State Library and delivered through the Regional library service outlets. Any additional library services are available through membership in the regional service outlet.