Everybody who sent him an email got exactly the same response. Unfortunately, it appears to be a rehash and much the same thing sent to the State's librarians a few days ago. Sharon Come visit the family (30+ lines online) www.roadshometofl.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg And Winnette" <gnw@rose.net> To: <FLHOLMES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 7:16 AM Subject: [FLHOLMES] Fw: State Library Relocation > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Governor Jeb Bush" <Jeb.Bush@MyFlorida.com> > To: <gnw@rose.net> > Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 5:38 PM > Subject: State Library Relocation > > > 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 unpublished history of the state from the time it was a territory until 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 > > > > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/03 > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >