T-L Photo/SHELLEY HANSON LIBRARIES ACROSS the state of Ohio, including the Belmont County District Library shown here, will not see a cut to their state funding in the recently passed budget.

MARTINS FERRY — The final version of the state of Ohio’s budget did not include a cut to public library funding, much to the relief of Anthony Orsini and other library directors across the state.

“They have not cut it in the final version of the budget. They have kept it at 1.7 percent,” said Orsini, director of the Belmont County District Library.

Orsini said he was surprised the cut did not happen, as libraries across the state were warned months ago that it would likely happen — going from 1.7 percent to 1.66 percent.

Learning that it was not going to happen was good news for Orsini whose library system depends on money from the state Public Library Fund. The cut would have equated to the district library losing $25,000.

“For us it means we don’t have to start making changes to our plans,” he said. “We can keep going ahead with our collection development and our projects can get done.”

Orsini said the library system has several projects in the works, but the most recent is the opening of the Powhatan Public Library in a new location — a former Catholic church. A grand opening celebration is being planned for July 16.

“It’s new to us. … We almost tripled the space we had. It’s a very pretty building and gave room to do storytimes and add some good stuff,” he said. “It has stained glass windows, high ceilings and original light fixtures.”

Orsini said the Hendershot family purchased the former church and is allowing the library to lease the space. The old building previously owned by the district library has been sold, he added.