Aurora Memorial Library deserves more attention
Most students are familiar with the Aurora Memorial Library, It is a short walk from the high school, and is housed in the same building as the Aurora Community Theatre.
However, according to a recent survey, 61.8% of students at AHS have not visited their local library in the past year.
This could be due to many factors. Compared to libraries such as the ones in neighboring Hudson and Solon, the Aurora Memorial Library is small and antiquated. The library could probably fit in the high school cafeteria with room to spare, and has an vintage feel with old wallpaper, carpet, and furnishings.
The library also has a somewhat limited stock of books. Speaking from personal experience, there have been many occasions where I have had to order a book from another library in the Portage County Library System and have it shipped to the Aurora branch.
Additionally, as more and more people use e-books and e-readers, less and less people need to go to the library to get their next book. People do not necessarily need to go to the library to get a new movie, either, thanks to the rise of streaming services like Netflix or Hulu.
On the surface, it may seem like these are obvious problems. It also may seem like there are simple solutions, such as build a larger, more modern facility, and get more books in stock. Unfortunately, it just isn’t that simple.
According to Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin, while the city of Aurora owns the building the library is housed in, it is the Portage County Library Trust that manages the library. The city upkeeps the exterior and structure of the building, while it is the Library Trust that deals with the interior.
Benjamin also stated the city has invested over $500,00 into the building over the last 10-15 years, through routine maintenance and some upgrades.
Additionally, she stated some Aurora residents have expressed interest in upgrading their local library. However, as the Aurora Memorial Library is managed by the Portage County Library System, it is under their control financially. It is subject to their budget, and funded by the entire county, especially through county wide tax levies.
“Aurora residents typically support such levies, but the county as a whole typically does not,” Womer Benjamin said.
In fact, in 2015 the Portage County Library System had a tax levy on the ballot. The one million dollar levy failed by just under 2,000 votes.
Tax levies are one of the best chances libraries have at getting updates. Director of the Portage County Library System Jon Harris says larger scale expansions would require a tax levy.
The Portage County Library System is one of the only libraries in Ohio relying only on state funding. Budget cuts in 2009 forced the library to close a branch and cut hours. This is why Aurora’s library is not open on Thursdays.
“Unfortunately, given our current funding, it would be difficult to staff a larger building even if it could be provided,” explained Harris.
Luckily, there are some good things to celebrate about the Portage County--and specifically Aurora--libraries. While you may think ebooks drive people away from libraries, Harris says the library has successfully adapted to the growing trend, as many people check out digital materials from the library.
Aurora’s library is also quite popular. The Portage County Library System as a whole circulated nearly 350,000 items in 2018, and about 93,000 of those were at Aurora’s branch.
Harris also says the library is implementing programs for all ages to bring people in, such as book clubs and speakers. There are also test prep programs aimed at teens, as well as computer coding lessons.
As for right now, without more money to support the library, there is only so much that can be done to upgrade them. However, the library is working to be as accessible as possible with what they have. As Harris pointed out, Portage County has been hit by job loss and the growing opioid epidemic, and one in six teens live below the poverty line.
“Libraries can be a great resource to help change those statistics for the better, but we can’t do it without support from our communities.”
Should the people of Aurora--and of Portage County--want more updated libraries, the best thing to do is vote for tax levies that would provide funding to the library. In the meantime, keep supporting the library by visiting and checking out books and other materials.
If you haven’t been to your local library in the past year, take the time to check it out one day. You never know what may be there to surprise you.
