COSHOCTON − Should the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum remain an entity under the Coshocton County District Library System even though this limits funding opportunities and ability to govern employees?
That’s the question both entities are considering once again.
The topic first came up last summer and has progressed to the point where both sides have agreed to participate in governmental conflict resolution services. There is no timeline for talks at this time.
At the February board meeting, an opinion from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office stated the library and museum separating was possible, but would be complex, costly and not required. Legal costs would start at $10,000 and increase if counsel was needed. The board stated it didn’t want to pursue any suits based on legal risk, personal liability, publicity and possible misunderstanding with the public.
The library board has also not approved allocating 4.75% of its public library funding to the museum for 2026. In past years, this allocation has totaled between $60,000 and $70,000. However, following a $150,000 reduction in the library’s funding in the most recent state biennial budget, the library began considering cuts to its support for the museum.
In January, the library cut hours to save money. Trimming staff and limiting the purchase of new materials is also on the table.
Library oversees museum operations, funding
The museum formed as an entity of the library system in 1924, with the museum opening in 1931. The library has served as a parent entity sense. It owns the museum and its contents, and museum workers are under the library and, therefore, are government employees.
The museum’s budget is approximately $204,000 a year. Funding comes from the library, museum foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Friends of the Museum and admissions. The museum has seven employees. The building and its contents are valued at about $1.75 million, based on an annual insurance appraisal. The museum has more than 20,600 items.
The library has 34 employees, including those at the museum. Monthly expenditures range on average from $125,000 to $200,000. About 75% of its funding comes from the state. The library also has a local property tax levy generating a bit under $400,000 a year, which will be on the fall general election ballot, and receives some miscellaneous fees, like patrons paying for photocopies.
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 18 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X at @llhayhurst.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Library and museum partnership questioned again as they enter mediation
Reporting by Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune / Coshocton Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune | USA TODAY Network
