A heck of a start

Librarians and library supporters across the state mobilized in amazing ways on Monday.

A newly created Facebook group called Save Our Libraries had just over a thousand members Monday morning. It's up to 5,659 at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Many of those Facebook members changed their profile pictures to show a Save Our Libraries logo, which can be found at the blog http://www.saveohiolibraries.com/. Hundreds of people have filled Gov. Ted Strickland's Facebook page with message in support of Ohio's libraries.

People put good old-fashioned technology to work as well, inundating the governor's office with nearly 1,100 calls asking for our libraries to be saved. In a normal day the governor's office receives 150 calls. That's right, almost 10 times as many calls in support of libraries alone came through yesterday.

But guess what? Monday was just the start. The work has barely begun.

The Cleveland Public Library has scheduled a rally Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. right out front of their building at 325 Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland. I'll be there. Will you? We need you.

Remember, you can keep calling your representatives. Here's the ways to get in contact with them:

* Call the Governor's office at 614-466-3555
* Call your local state representative
* Call your state senator

Save your library.