Well they can just get offended. I thought action was reasonable. You're right about people wanting it for free. I delete dozens of messages a week from people who want me to run down to the courthouse or library and copy something for them. Or go out an walk a cemetery and find their relatives. I maintain several websites for county level genealogy and I get complaints all the time from people that I don't have the entire history of their family online for them. But do they offer to send me something to post. Not a chance. Gene At 03:12 PM 3/5/03, Clemi wrote: >Hello A*s ... >At the risk of offending the offended (judging from the countless >e-mails on so many lists), I read the Govenor's letter below and it >seems reasonable. > >It appears nothing will be lost as the permanent collection of the State >Library and the State Archives will remain unchanged where they are (the >R.A. Gray Building). > >His proposal is to move circulating collection of the State Library >which he states, "consists of general volumes of fiction and >non-fiction." The reason for this move appears to be fiscally sound plus >they will be more accessable by increased circulation. Upon reading the >letter, the cost per circulation to this point, is not good stewardship >of the taxpayer's dollar. > >Nova Southeastern University is located in suburban Ft. Lauderdale. > >In closing ... while reading many of the angry e-mails concerning the >proposed change of location for the circulating collection one thing >occurred to me. Just how many Floridians ever bothered to look at the >books, much less check one out? > >It is a shame it took this proposal for many to even know of its >existance. But then, most people want their research available, done by >someone else and placed on the Internet. > >My thoughts, >clemi > >----- Original Message ----- >From: <Mgillot@aol.com> >To: <ARMSTRONG-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 12:19 AM >Subject: [ARMSTRONG-L] Re: FL State Library--Jeb's Answer > > >> Dear Listers, >> >> I thought you might be interested in what Governor Bush sent to me in >> response to my protest. I would say that it is a LOT OF NOTHING. >> >> Mary G. (Indpls.) >> >> >> >> Subj: State Library Relocation >> Date: 2/28/2003 5:37:37 PM US Eastern Standard Time >> From: <A >HREF="mailto:Jeb.Bush@MyFlorida.com">Jeb.Bush@MyFlorida.com</A> >> To: <A HREF="mailto:Mgillot@aol.com">Mgillot@aol.com</A> >> Sent from the Internet (Details) >> >> >> Dear Friend: >> >> Over the past several weeks, I have listened closely to the various >views >> and responses to my proposals regarding the Division of Library and >> Information Services and the circulating collection of the State >Library. I >> have been impressed by the passion and commitment to libraries and the >> unwavering support for the State Library shared by librarians, >educators, >> scholars and citizens alike. I sincerely appreciate the concerns >shared by >> the citizens of this great state when it comes to the preservation of >our >> state's published history and the protection of our libraries. I would >like >> to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to share >your >> thoughts with me on this important matter. >> >> I would also like to take this opportunity to share with you the >reasoning >> behind my proposal and to clear up some misconceptions which have been >> circulated. First and foremost, I do not favor, and have not >proposed, the >> elimination of the permanent collection of the State Library or the >State >> Archives. This one-of-a-kind collection, which includes the published >and >> unpublished history of the state from the time it was a territory >until >> present day, such as maps, state agency publications, journals and >diaries, >> photographs, as well as books about the state, is a tremendous >resource for >> scholars, educators, and all Floridians interested in our great state >> history. Under my proposal, this collection will continue to be >housed in >> the R.A. Gray Building and supervised by a professional staff of >librarians >> and archivists and appropriate support staff. >> >> However, I do propose moving the circulating collection of the State >> Library, which consists of general volumes of fiction and non-fiction, >to >> Nova Southeastern University, for three reasons: >> >> First, the needs of public libraries have changed. The State Library >of >> Florida began building its circulating collection to supplement the >> collections of small, rural, or economically disadvantaged >communities. This >> supplemental collection was necessary until 1997, when every county in >> Florida began offering free public library service. Moreover, through >the >> Florida Library Information Network, Florida's interlibrary loan >service, >> all citizens have access to the collections of libraries throughout >the >> state. In time, the Florida Electronic Library will allow >user-generated >> interlibrary loans, making accessibility even easier. These are all >great >> achievements, and credit should go to Florida's libraries, as well as >the >> Division of Library and Information Services. Because of this >success, >> however, a circulating collection based in Tallahassee is no longer >> necessary. >> >> The second reason I proposed this move is that it will increase >> accessibility to this circulating collection. The simple fact is that >in >> its current location, the circulating collection is underutilized. >Last >> year the circulation of this collection, including interlibrary loans, >was >> just over 60,000. If that sounds like a lot, it's really not. >Because of >> the low usage, the circulating collection actually cost, you, the >Florida >> taxpayer, $184.62 per registered borrower last year, or $64 per >circulation. >> >> >> Now, the third major reason I proposed this move, is to make the best >use of >> taxpayer dollars. My budget recommendations support Florida's public >> libraries including $32.4 million for State Aid to Libraries, $6 >million in >> federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, $1.2 million for >library >> cooperatives, and $6 million for library construction projects. Our >focus >> will be where it belongs: developing partnerships with Florida's >> communities. >> >> But part of what makes those recommendations possible is the $10.2 >million >> in savings that taxpayers will realize by moving the circulating >collection. >> In a very tight budget year with expensive constitutional amendments >passed >> by the voting public, we must make sure that every tax dollar is spent >> wisely. >> >> Thankfully, our new agreement with Nova Southeastern University does >not >> merely save money, it will actually increase the circulation of the >> collection. >> >> The Nova Southeastern University Library, Research, and Information >> Technology Center is a joint use library administered by Nova >Southeastern >> University, an independent not-for-profit educational institution, and >> Broward County Libraries, a public library system. Nova's circulation >last >> year was 421,659, or seven times the current circulation enjoyed by >the >> collection. The Broward County Libraries have 1.3 million registered >> borrowers in a county with a population of 1.6 million, meaning that >82% of >> the service population has a library card from this institution. Any >person >> who holds a card from any Broward County library and all employees and >> students at Nova will have direct access to the collection, while >citizens >> everywhere will have access through Florida's interlibrary loan >program. No >> Floridian will lose access to this collection, and thousands of >Floridians >> will have better access to it, once this agreement is implemented >beginning >> this July. >> >> Relocating the collection is one of the actions that we will take to >allow >> the State Library to refocus on meeting the future needs of Florida's >469 >> public libraries and the citizens they serve. I now look to move >forward in >> implementing other library priorities like the Florida Electronic >Library, >> initiating a statewide library card, and expanding the Florida Library >> Information Network. The State Library of Florida and Archives will >> continue to collect, catalog, preserve, and make available the >unpublished >> and published history of Florida. The future of the new agency is very >> bright, and I look forward to working with Secretary of State Glenda >Hood >> and the entire new department as we work to create and preserve what I >know >> will be the best state library and archives in the nation. >> >> I thank you again for taking the time to share your views and opinions >with >> me. I hope this response has given you a clearer picture of my >proposal and >> its benefits to all Floridians. >> >> Sincerely, >> Jeb Bush >> >> ______________________________