CLEVELAND -- In the first general election after Republican lawmakers changed how libraries were funded by the state, voters across Ohio overwhelmingly moved to support their libraries.

Of the 20 levies on the ballot, 18 succeeded on Tuesday.

“Ohioans continue to show their support for public libraries at the polls,” said Michelle Francis, executive director of the Ohio Library Council, said in a statement. “These results make it clear that Ohioans value their libraries and trust them to be responsible stewards of public funds.”

The measures included one bond issue, 13 renewals, three replacements and one additional levy. The two levies that were rejected, for Norwalk Public Library and for Grafton-Midview Public Library, were defeated by narrow margins.

The results come months after t

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