By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Citing public outcry as a turning point, the board of the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County voted Monday to make other cutbacks in order to save five library branches from closing.

"The public hearings generated significant support for local branches, and that support strongly affects this decision," said board member Charles D. Lindberg.

Branches remaining open in 2003 are: Bond Hill, Deer Park, Elmwood Place, Greenhills and Mount Healthy. The board had announced in July that it would close those branches Sept. 1 to save money.

However, the decision to save those libraries comes with a price.

Because of a $16.8 million shortfall in the 2003 budget, the board eliminated new funds for a Woodlawn branch and parking at the Westwood branch, and additional funding for replacing branches at Reading and Bond Hill. Original plans were to close Bond Hill and build a new branch, combining the Bond Hill and Roselawn branches.

The new St. Bernard branch, which had already been funded, has been put on hold for 2003 because future state funding is uncertain and financial projections for the project have included closing the Elmwood Place branch, which now stays open.

In addition, the board cut hours an average of 5.5 hours a week at the main library downtown and at all 41 branches. All libraries, except for the main library, will be closed on Sundays.

Patrons will also be affected by a 7.5 percent reduction in the variety and quantity of books, periodicals and audio-visual materials purchased.

Board members asked the public to now press state legislators and the governor for adequate library funding. The library ran into financial trouble this year when the state announced that library systems would receive less money than expected.

"If this situation doesn't turn around next year, and the General Assembly and the governor aren't liberal with the libraries, we're going to be right back here again," Mr. Lindberg said.

About 70 people attended the meeting at the main library.

Fred Murrell, a Greenhills Village Council member who fought the closing of the Greenhills branch, thanked the board for its decision.

"We can work together before the controversial or difficult decisions are made," he said. "The village of Greenhills would like to work with the library board. We would also offer our services to rally the troops, to lobby the state legislature and to lobby the governor."

Karen Mandell of Mount Healthy thanked the board for saving the Mount Healthy branch. "I would personally support a local levy to keep all the branches open," she said. "Without local funds, I think we're going to be back here with the same problem next year."

Board member Tara Khoury said last week's election results in which a number of tax issues were defeated didn't give her confidence that taxpayers would support a local levy.

Mr. Lindberg added: "The minute we say we're thinking about a levy, we take the pressure off of the state, and I'm not ready to go down that road."

Earl Broadnax of Bond Hill wondered how the board will be accountable to the public the next time around. "How do I as a citizen disagree if we have to go through the same process next year or the year after to save our libraries? How do I get you to be accountable to the taxpayers?"

Mr. Lindberg responded: "Obviously, we did respond to community concerns. ... We listened. We responded, and those libraries are staying open."

After the meeting, some of the speakers talked about how the library board handled the process.

"They never communicated with the communities about what they wanted to do,'' Mr. Broadnax said. "They never expected the public outcry. They've been doing this so long, no one has ever challenged them. ... They've never been accountable to anyone."

Mr. Murrell of Greenhills said he learned about the proposed branch closing about an hour before the public announcement. The process would have been less painful, he said, if the board had gone to the communities earlier and shared the problem so local residents could help brainstorm solutions. Nonetheless, the five communities got the board's attention through public meetings, phone calls and letters.

"It just goes to show you," Mr. Murrell said, "you can fight city hall, such as it is, and be effective."

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com