February 20, 2026
Dear Library Patrons, Supporters, Friends, and Neighbors,
I am writing to you today with urgent news regarding proposed library legislation in Indiana. The Indiana House of Representatives plans to vote on this troubling legislation as early as Monday, February 23, 2026.
Yesterday evening, I learned that Indiana Senate Bill 4, which addresses various fiscal matters, includes specific language that could fundamentally destabilize and harm every public library in Indiana.
If Senate Bill 4 passes, libraries could be easily defunded by their respective county or city governments. This is a significant departure from how library governance has functioned in Indiana for generations.
Take Action Now - Your Voice Matters More Than Ever
Your legislators need to hear from you NOW!
1. Identify your Representative.
2. Call your Representative today at 317-232-9600.
3. Ask them to support an amendment to SB 4 that delays the implementation of the public library language until 2029, in alignment with SEA 1.
4. Share this alert with others in your community who care about libraries!
Why does this matter? What does this mean for you and LCPL?
In 2019, the legislature passed HEA 1343, which prevented a library's budget from being reduced by more than 10% by their fiscal body (in our case, the Lake County Council). SB 4 would strip away this important budgetary protection, allowing a public library's funding to be drastically reduced or zeroed out entirely at the discretion of their city or county.
When combined with the upcoming cuts related to last year's SEA 1 reduction in property taxes, the impact of SB 4 would be significant. This bill would further limit LCPL's ability to provide materials, services, and maintain our facilities.
A decrease in LCPL’s budget would result in:
- shorter open hours
- fewer programs for children and adults
- longer wait times for eBooks and downloadable audiobooks
- reduced opportunities for the community to utilize our spaces for small group meetings, tutoring, social events, and shelter during extreme weather temperatures
As a colleague recently stated, "public libraries are good investments because they reinvest tax dollars in their local communities." Libraries engage local landscaping businesses, vehicle and equipment repair shops, and employ local speakers and performers, creating jobs for local residents who then spend their wages at nearby restaurants, shops, and events.
LCPL impacts the lives of our patrons and communities every day in numerous ways. Please contact your Indiana Representative at 317-232-9600 today and ask them to support an amendment to SB 4 to delay the implementation of the public library language until 2029.
Your neighbor and local librarian,
Carol Daumer Gutjahr
Executive Director
Lake County Public Library
Lake County Public Library
1919 W 81st Ave
Merrillville, IN
(219) 769-3541