I would like to hear from anyone regarding this family name associated with Pensacola. Su

Tom, Those are good links. Thanks. I just noticed in the article from the Tallahassee Democrat that the librarians have already been told their jobs end July 1. This makes it more urgent. Good links. Sydney ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 11:50 AM Subject: Re: [FLORIDA] Oblivion of Florida's History > It does seem time to add politics to this discussion. In 6 months the > State Archives and State Library may be gone. These institutions of > Florida State government date back to before Florida's becoming a State. > > I agree with Richard White. There is another letter by Pam Cooper, > Florida State Genealogical Society President, which has been sent to > local genealogical societies that details the proposed destruction of > these institutions. I hope she posts it to this list. The St. > Petersburg Times, the Tallahassee Democrat, and the Orlando Sentinel > have also raised this issue as well in very political terms. > > St. Petersburg Times: > http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/22/State/Bush__Tough_times__to.shtml > http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/25/Columns/Library_is_a_characte.shtml > Tallahassee Democrat: > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5018483.htm > Orlando Sentinel: > http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclibrary25012503jan25. story > > I suggest that the people of this list inform themselves of what is > proposed and then singly write to their State Representative and State > Senator. The people on this list all have internet access and all of > the legislators have web pages and email. Tell your legislators what > you think about this issue (obviously don't threaten beyond your next > vote) and ask them what they plan to do. > > Florida State Legislature: > http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ > > If you want to sign petitions, don't let that stop you from writing your > legislators directly. > > Bring up the issue at meetings of your local genealogical and historical > societies and suggest action. > > What the Governor has done is still just a proposal. > The legislature need to act on it. > > Thomas D. Santa Cruz > Pasco County, Florida > >

Hi Richard, Sorry about that, I should made it clearer. This is the part of that site I meant. http://www.congress.org/congressorg/officials/state/?lvl=L&state=fl It gives the state legislatures as well. Your link is probably better in this case, though. Thanks, Sydney ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard White" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 1:16 PM Subject: Re: [FLORIDA] Oblivion of Florida's History > > Sydney... > > I'm sorry, but Congress is the wrong tree to bark up on this issue. Tom > had the right link for the Florida House and Florida Senate at: > http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ > > However, a personally composed letter or two sent by U.S. mail to your > own local legislative representatives would get a lot more mileage than > any number of e-mailed messages... even to the same people. > > RW > > Sydney Cardner wrote: > > >www.congress.org is an easy way to reach them by email or get the phone > >number. You can also reach their websites from the site. > > > > >

Ah, come on, give us a break. Jeb said 15 years ago that he thought that State government should be dismantled - he said that the whole thing could be run out of a mobile home on the Crawfordville Highway. And he said it again at his most recent inaugural address - did you think that his almost wistful talk of empty buildings was hyperbole? Or maybe you thought that only services you didn't use or care about would be cut? The only part that the class-size amendment plays in this mess is the cover it gives Jeb is wiping out State government - now he gets to blame it on the voters. I blame them, too - for re-electing this bozo. And I am getting a little sick of hearing about how the 53% or so of the citizens of Florida people who voted for the amendment did so blindly or "unthinkingly". Have you ever considered that maybe they just got tired of being ignored by their officials when they asked that education be made a higher priority? That maybe they saw Jeb's positioning of himself as the "Education Governor" as the hypocritical electioneering that it really was and decided to force a response. You need to wake up and smell the coffee - you are now seeing the devious plans that Bush said that would use should the amendment pass. He will threaten dire consequences in his budget, then one of his cronies will propose that the amendment be repealed because "see, we told you that we can't afford it". The hope will be that we will all then rush out to undo the damage that we so "unthinkingly" did. Oh, and I have made a very useful suggestion to the Governor, but I doubt that he will resign just because I asked him to. Jack Butler ----- Original Message ----- From: "J B" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 12:32 PM Subject: [FLORIDA] Nail the perpetrator > The demand to cut back class size that necessitates the rabid cutback in > so many state services really put a cog in the plans of Bush to enhance > this state's progress. > The persons or person responsible should be the recipient of the > blame. I am as devasted as anyone of the plan to bury the history > library and archives, but the persons who voted for the measure to > reduce classes were the masses who unthinkingly vote for anything that > sounds good, without a thought for the expenses it might incur. The > library is not the only cutback that will cause an uproar, I'm sure; but > how else will Bush raise the money to finance such a cutback in classes? > As a teacher, I remember the days when I had 45 in a class--true that > was in high school. but the three years in elementary school teaching, > the classes contained 30 and more (in second grade). > Perhaps if the ridiculously exorbitant salaries paid to the powers > that exist in the county education systems were cut in half, and many of > the dead wood employees released from duty, surely millions of dollars > could be reaped to help the system. > Please don't think that I am not as concerned as anyone about the > demise of the library. As a genealogist, I will suffer also. It is > simply that I deem it a shame to beat the wrong horse. > It is time for thinking persons to offer solutions to the governor to > help keep the state running smoothly by demanding a revote and killing > some of these bills passed---as the reduction in class size and the > bullet train---and relieve some of Florida's financial woes. > JB >

Sydney... I'm sorry, but Congress is the wrong tree to bark up on this issue. Tom had the right link for the Florida House and Florida Senate at: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ However, a personally composed letter or two sent by U.S. mail to your own local legislative representatives would get a lot more mileage than any number of e-mailed messages... even to the same people. RW Sydney Cardner wrote: >www.congress.org is an easy way to reach them by email or get the phone >number. You can also reach their websites from the site. >

Tom is right. You must call or write. I have been in touch with quite a few congress people lately, and it is very hard for them. Many may agree with us, but they face possible recrimination such as losing party chairperson positions. Rep. Murman was just forced to share a chairman post instead of being full chairman. She voted against the wishes of the house leadership and with her conscience. I have had a couple of others agree that this could happen to them as well. Only 1/3 are of another party in the legislature, so we must appeal to them to vote their conscience in spite of consequences. Most truly care, but they have to know the people feel very strongly about this. www.congress.org is an easy way to reach them by email or get the phone number. You can also reach their websites from the site. Sydney Cardner Lakeland, Florida ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 11:50 AM Subject: Re: [FLORIDA] Oblivion of Florida's History > It does seem time to add politics to this discussion. In 6 months the > State Archives and State Library may be gone. These institutions of > Florida State government date back to before Florida's becoming a State. > > I agree with Richard White. There is another letter by Pam Cooper, > Florida State Genealogical Society President, which has been sent to > local genealogical societies that details the proposed destruction of > these institutions. I hope she posts it to this list. The St. > Petersburg Times, the Tallahassee Democrat, and the Orlando Sentinel > have also raised this issue as well in very political terms. > > St. Petersburg Times: > http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/22/State/Bush__Tough_times__to.shtml > http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/25/Columns/Library_is_a_characte.shtml > Tallahassee Democrat: > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5018483.htm > Orlando Sentinel: > http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclibrary25012503jan25. story > > I suggest that the people of this list inform themselves of what is > proposed and then singly write to their State Representative and State > Senator. The people on this list all have internet access and all of > the legislators have web pages and email. Tell your legislators what > you think about this issue (obviously don't threaten beyond your next > vote) and ask them what they plan to do. > > Florida State Legislature: > http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ > > If you want to sign petitions, don't let that stop you from writing your > legislators directly. > > Bring up the issue at meetings of your local genealogical and historical > societies and suggest action. > > What the Governor has done is still just a proposal. > The legislature need to act on it. > > Thomas D. Santa Cruz > Pasco County, Florida > >

The demand to cut back class size that necessitates the rabid cutback in so many state services really put a cog in the plans of Bush to enhance this state's progress. The persons or person responsible should be the recipient of the blame. I am as devasted as anyone of the plan to bury the history library and archives, but the persons who voted for the measure to reduce classes were the masses who unthinkingly vote for anything that sounds good, without a thought for the expenses it might incur. The library is not the only cutback that will cause an uproar, I'm sure; but how else will Bush raise the money to finance such a cutback in classes? As a teacher, I remember the days when I had 45 in a class--true that was in high school. but the three years in elementary school teaching, the classes contained 30 and more (in second grade). Perhaps if the ridiculously exorbitant salaries paid to the powers that exist in the county education systems were cut in half, and many of the dead wood employees released from duty, surely millions of dollars could be reaped to help the system. Please don't think that I am not as concerned as anyone about the demise of the library. As a genealogist, I will suffer also. It is simply that I deem it a shame to beat the wrong horse. It is time for thinking persons to offer solutions to the governor to help keep the state running smoothly by demanding a revote and killing some of these bills passed---as the reduction in class size and the bullet train---and relieve some of Florida's financial woes. JB

Betty Jo and All: Yes, I do give permission to print. But, I would highly recommend that you also include the e-mails and addresses of the state representatives, senators and the Governor. Thank you everyone for helping us to get the word out. Pam Pam Cooper FGS/FSGS 2003 Conference Co-Chair < http://www.fgs.org > President, Florida State Genealogical Society < http://www.rootsweb com/~flsgs/ > Chair, Librarians Serving Genealogists < http://www.cas.usf edu/lis/genealib/ > P. O. Box 7066 Vero Beach, FL 32961-7066 -------Original Message------- From: Bjstock1 Date: Sunday, January 26, 2003 12:22:17 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [FLORIDA] Re: FLORIDA-D Digest V03 #14 Pam... Do we Genealogical Society newsletter editors of the state have your permission to reprint your letter as posted on this Board in our individual Society newsletters? That would be the best way to spread the word to the non-internet folks. If you could give a "blanket" permission, it would save a lot of email.. Betty Jo > Subject: [FLORIDA] Florida State Library/Archives > Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 09:15:13 -0500 > From: Pam Cooper <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk > Pam Cooper, FSGS President... .

Pam... Do we Genealogical Society newsletter editors of the state have your permission to reprint your letter as posted on this Board in our individual Society newsletters? That would be the best way to spread the word to the non-internet folks. If you could give a "blanket" permission, it would save a lot of email.. Betty Jo > Subject: [FLORIDA] Florida State Library/Archives > Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 09:15:13 -0500 > From: Pam Cooper <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk > Pam Cooper, FSGS President...

Thanks Tom for posting the Legislative web site. I would also recommend sending letters and e-mails to Governor Bush. [email protected] The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Telephone: (850) 488-4441 or FAX (850) 487-0801 I noticed that there are different emails and address for the Governor. Send to both if in doubt. <G> -------Original Message------- From: Tom Date: Sunday, January 26, 2003 11:56:39 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [FLORIDA] Oblivion of Florida's History It does seem time to add politics to this discussion. In 6 months the State Archives and State Library may be gone. These institutions of Florida State government date back to before Florida's becoming a State. I agree with Richard White. There is another letter by Pam Cooper, Florida State Genealogical Society President, which has been sent to local genealogical societies that details the proposed destruction of these institutions. I hope she posts it to this list. The St. Petersburg Times, the Tallahassee Democrat, and the Orlando Sentinel have also raised this issue as well in very political terms. St. Petersburg Times: http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/22/State/Bush__Tough_times__to.shtml http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/25/Columns/Library_is_a_characte.shtml Tallahassee Democrat: http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5018483.htm Orlando Sentinel: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclibrary25012503jan25 story I suggest that the people of this list inform themselves of what is proposed and then singly write to their State Representative and State Senator. The people on this list all have internet access and all of the legislators have web pages and email. Tell your legislators what you think about this issue (obviously don't threaten beyond your next vote) and ask them what they plan to do. Florida State Legislature: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ If you want to sign petitions, don't let that stop you from writing your legislators directly. Bring up the issue at meetings of your local genealogical and historical societies and suggest action. What the Governor has done is still just a proposal. The legislature need to act on it. Thomas D. Santa Cruz Pasco County, Florida .

To take Cheryl's excellent suggestion one step further, go to this site to find e-mail addresses for your legislators: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ Gov Bush's address is [email protected] Bill Cotterell with the Tallahassee Democrat : [email protected] Now I will shut my big mouth for awhile!! Peggy Munroe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jack V Butler" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 10:51 AM Subject: Re: [FLORIDA] Florida State Library/Archives > Hi everyone - > > I am Jack Butler's wife and you usually don't hear from me. Well never. I > have an idea. When you write you state legislator and the governor, copy > Bill Cotterell at the Tallahassee Democrat in Tallahassee. He is the > paper's gadfly. Jack and I live and work in the Tallahassee area. Believe > me, the legislators read the Tallahassee Democrat - every line. And Bill > Cotterell can really write an opinion piece when he smells something > reeking. > > I think we should give it a shot. Can't hurt. - Cheryl, the silent wife. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Pam Cooper" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 9:15 AM > Subject: [FLORIDA] Florida State Library/Archives > > > > Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk > > Pam Cooper, FSGS President > > > > I have provided you with some very important information based on > > conversations that I had with Florida State Archives staff; Executive > > Director of the Florida Historical Society, Nick Wynne; Librarians on > > the Florida Library Association listserv; Jim Schnur, Special > > Collections & Archives, Eckerd College; Robert Austin, President of the > > Florida Archaeological Council and reading many, many documents now > > available on the Internet. > > > > In addition, I have contacted and discussed this situation with David > > Rencher, chair of the Records Preservation and Access (RPA) > > http://www.fgs.org/rpa/ He asked me to write a report based on facts > > and it will be posted to the RPA web site. Upon his return from the > > American Library Association conference, he will make further contacts > > in the library field and ask for support from genealogists and > > historians all over the U.S. > > > > The most disheartening letter that I have read in the last four days is > > the letter from our former State Librarian, Barratt Wilkins. He just > > retired last month. Please read his email in its entirety at the end of > > this email. > > > > I am asking for your help. Please write, email, visit your legislators. > > Make them aware of this very grievous error that they are about to > > commit. We cannot lose Florida's treasures. > > > > The Florida State Genealogical Society board has unanimously approved > > joining a coalition to oppose Governor Bush's proposed budget regarding > > the dismantling of the Florida State Library and Archives. > > > > The coalition currently consists of the following organizations: > > . Florida Historical Society > > . Florida Archaeological Council > > . Florida Anthropological Society > > . Florida Trust for Historic Preservation > > . Florida Association of Museums > > > > A statement will be drafted the week of Jan 27. It will be discussed > > among the coalition chairs and the statement will then be finalized and > > sent to the Governor. > > > > Below are the details as I know them today. > > > > Facts > > 1. The Governor has proposed for the 2003-4 budget ZERO dollars for the > > State Library and Information Services > > > http://www.ebudget.state.fl.us/dtlsearchissue.asp?service_id=45400100&pgm_co > mponent_id=0309000000&amp;appr_cat_id=&amp;issue_id=1001000 > > > > 2. It has been proposed that the state library be eliminated and > > transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee by July 1. > > > > 3. The proposed budget cuts 17.6 million from FSU's state funding and > > President T. K. Wetherell said "The way it looks is that someone wants > > us to assume a responsibility but with no money (provided)." In > > addition, FSU has limited parking, and their own library is lacking so > > much space that they use warehouses. The FSU library would need to hire > > more staff to facilitate the book processing and increased reference > > questions. > > > > 4. The Florida State Library and Archives division is now part of the > > Department of State and is responsible for the state library, the state > > archives, state record keeping and library development services/grants > > programs for public libraries throughout the state. > > > > 5. The proposal for the Bureau of Archives and Records Management is for > > > > the Records Management responsibilities will become a part of the > > Department of Management and the State Archives could fall under the > > parks department of the Department of Environmental Protection. > > > > 6. The FloridaMemory.com project will be in jeopardy. This site now > > contains the photographic collection (over 90,00 pictures), Florida > > Pension Application Files, Spanish Land Grants, Call and Brevard Family > > Papers, and many more documents of Florida's early history. > > > > 7. The Governor's budget must pass the Florida Legislature. Session will > > > > begin March 4. We still have time to change the tide. > > > > Below are newspaper articles via the Internet: > > > > Is state library about to die? - Tallahassee Democrat > > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5018483.htm > > > > Bush: Agency merger would save millions - Tallahassee Democrat > > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5000843.htm > > > > Library could be victim of Bush cuts - Orlando Sentinel > > > http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclibrary25012503jan25. > story > > > > A LETTER FROM BARRATT WILKINS, RECENTLY RETIRED STATE LIBRARIAN OF THE > > FLORIDA STATE LIBRARY > > > > Folks: > > First, thanks to all for their good wishes on my retirement. I hope to > > see many of you at the Reception on January 30, so we can visit again > > for a short time. I am beginning to settle into my new routines, which > > includes time each day in surfing the Internet and WWW. > > > > During my searching, I came across the Governor's Recommended Budget for > > > > FY2003-04. I assume many of you have seen the e-version of this document > > > > by now. It came out on Tuesday. > > > > One of the most startling changes is the elimination of the Department > > of State and the Department of Community Affairs to form a new > > "Department of State and Community Partnerships". The two departments > > did have a combined workforce of 1026 FTE and a budget of $913,580,202. > > The new Department will have a workforce of 597 FTE and a budget of > > $740,738,101. ALSO, the divisions of Library and Information Services, > > Cultural Affairs, and Historical Resources are eliminated and NOT part > > of the new Department. In fact, it is difficult to find the word > > "library" in the recommended budget. The new Department has a new > > [Division of] Community Planning and Assistance, and within that new > > division there is a new unit called "Community Assistance Grants" which > > has the responsibility to administer grants for community development > > and revitalization ($91.2 million), cultural opportunities ($16.4 > > million for cultural and historic preservation grants), EDUCATIONAL > > SUPPORT ($45.6 million in library grants and library construction), > > executive leadership and support services ($10.1 million -117 positions > > to administer grants); and land resources ($82.3 million). Somewhere > > between 25 and 29 of the positions in executive leadership and support > > services would be assigned administration and support of library grants. > > > > "Educational Support" is made up of the following grants: > > State Aid to Libraries $32.4 million (no change) > > Library Cooperative Grants 1.2 million (no change) > > Library Construction Grants 5,996,157 > > Federal Aid to Libraries 5,996,157 > > > > It would appear that the only staff assigned to administer these grants > > would be the 25-29 positions in current Bureau of Library Development > > and Administration Service units, in the current Division of Library and > > > > Information Services. This would be the ONLY staff! I did learn that an > > error was made in the Governor's Recommended Budget, and that instead of > > > > State Archives and Records Management being transferred to the > > Department of Management Services, it is now proposed to be transferred > > to the Department of Environmental Protection under State Parks and > > Recreation. DEP is going to be the new home for Archives and Records > > Management and the staff will be reduced. I suspect that the Florida > > Memory program as currently funded would be in jeopardy. The state > > Library of Florida (Bureau of Library and Network Services) is slated to > > > > close effective July 1, 2003, with the layoff of all 36 employees in > > that unit. The collections are supposed to go to Florida State > > University, although that university does not have any room to house > > 10.7 linear miles of materials in the State Library. FSU Library > > currently utilizes two warehouses for its overflow collection. The > > closure includes the State Library's operations in the Capitol, called > > "Legislative Library Services". The antecedents of the State Library > > began with Statehood in 1845, and the creation of what became the State > > Library was among the first 15 acts of the new state's legislature. > > Much of the Florida's history is in the collections: > > Florida Collection - contains over 236,000 items including printed > > materials, state government document, maps, and microfilm reels. > > > > There is also an unprecedented 113-file drawer of pamphlets, > > manuscripts, and other materials collected by W.T. Cash, Dorothy Dodd, > > and State Library staff for nearly 80 years. > > > > The Florida collection contains materials acquired by the State Library > > before the Civil War and during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. > > [There is a rumor that this collection would follow the State Archives > > to State Parks and Recreation] > > > > General Collection - contains nearly 900,000 items including bound > > books, federal documents, periodicals, films, 9700+ videos with public > > performance rights, and materials in the legislative library service. [I > > > > have heard that one of the reasons to disburse this > > collection is because it only had some 70,000 circulations from its > > 330,000 bound books collection each year. While this may seem small in > > comparison to public libraries, when one compares the circulation to the > > > > other state libraries in the nation, Florida ranked 10th in circulation. > > > > Florida also ranked 2nd in the nation in reference transactions and 6th > > in public service hours. The State Library is a special library not a > > public library and can only be compared with statistics of the other > > state libraries.] > > > > The concept of the Division of Library and Information Services was to > > be a "one-stop shop" for Florida residents to have free access to > > information about Florida's history, culture, and life in all formats > > including visual images, and provide assistance in the development of > > library, archival, and records management services statewide. > > > > Questions for the library community: > > With the proposed elimination of the State Library and a cost savings of > > > > approximately $3 million annually, what happens to the state documents > > depository program? What happens to Florida's interlibrary loan network > > (FLIN)? Audio-visual services? And will public access to the collections > > > > be preserved in an academic setting? What is the definition of public > > access? > > > > With the elimination of FLIN, will libraries now be allowed to charge > > one another for interlibrary loans? > > > > What kind of access will be afforded to the State Archives? With a > > reduction in staff will lawyers, legislative staff, and other > > researchers have as easy an access to these resources as currently > > afforded? Will genealogists still have the public access they have > > enjoyed? Will the popular Saturday hours continue? How will new > > materials for the collection be acquired for the state's genealogy > > collection since a portion of the State Library's book budget is > > dedicated to that purpose? > > > > How will FloridaMemory.com be maintained in a DEP setting since it > > received some of its support from federal LSTA grants? > > > > When all of the institutions (State Library, State Archives, Legislative > > > > Library Services, Records Management and State Records Center) currently > > > > in the Division of Library and Information Services are no longer > > together, how long do you believe that "library grants" and the > > consultants in Library Development will survive? One only needs look at > > the experience in the Department of Education and the elimination of > > consultants for some insight about what may happen. When there is no > > longer a "State Library" presence in > > Tallahassee, embodied in the R.A. Gray Building, how fast will the > > visibility and support for library grants and programs disappear? > > > > What is going to happen to the Gray Building? Is it to become empty? > > > > I have been surprised with the SILENCE of the Florida Library > > Association about these matters since the news has been out for several > > days. Perhaps you should contact the FLA President and find out what > > response the Association is going to make to these proposals. I > > understand that a meeting called under the auspices of the FLA > > Legislative Committee on January 30 at the Leon County Library from 11 > > a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist them in developing an FLA response may be > > having some difficulties. Are you planning to attend? > > Somebody needs to be asking questions. Although I am now retired, as an > > honorary life member of FLA I think I have the right to call this > > situation to the attention of a wider audience. For those receiving this > > > > email, I would appreciate your sending it to colleagues on library list > > serves and by other means. I no long have the resource to hit a few > > buttons and blanket the state with a message. > > > > Best wishes to all of you!! > > Barratt > > [email protected] > > > > > > Pam Cooper > > FGS/FSGS 2003 Conference Co-Chair < http://www.fgs.org > > > President, Florida State Genealogical Society < > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~flsgs/ > > > Chair, Librarians Serving Genealogists < > > http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/genealib/ > > > P. O. Box 7066 > > Vero Beach, FL 32961-7066 > > > > > > > > > > . > > > > > >

It does seem time to add politics to this discussion. In 6 months the State Archives and State Library may be gone. These institutions of Florida State government date back to before Florida's becoming a State. I agree with Richard White. There is another letter by Pam Cooper, Florida State Genealogical Society President, which has been sent to local genealogical societies that details the proposed destruction of these institutions. I hope she posts it to this list. The St. Petersburg Times, the Tallahassee Democrat, and the Orlando Sentinel have also raised this issue as well in very political terms. St. Petersburg Times: http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/22/State/Bush__Tough_times__to.shtml http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/25/Columns/Library_is_a_characte.shtml Tallahassee Democrat: http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5018483.htm Orlando Sentinel: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclibrary25012503jan25.story I suggest that the people of this list inform themselves of what is proposed and then singly write to their State Representative and State Senator. The people on this list all have internet access and all of the legislators have web pages and email. Tell your legislators what you think about this issue (obviously don't threaten beyond your next vote) and ask them what they plan to do. Florida State Legislature: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ If you want to sign petitions, don't let that stop you from writing your legislators directly. Bring up the issue at meetings of your local genealogical and historical societies and suggest action. What the Governor has done is still just a proposal. The legislature need to act on it. Thomas D. Santa Cruz Pasco County, Florida

Peggy: Thanks for writing. This is the information from the Florida Library Association. I would contact them. You are invited to a meeting hosted by the Florida Library Association Legislative Committee on Thursday, January 30, 2003, from 11:00 am to 4:00 p m., in the Leroy Collins Leon County Public Library Meeting Room, 200 W Park Avenue, Tallahassee, FL. For more information, call 850-487-2665. In order to plan for seating and lunch you must register to attend this meeting. Please contact Ann Williams ([email protected], 352-334-3910) for a registration and lunch selection form. Registrations must be received by January 24, 2003. $8.00 per person will be collected at the meeting to pay for lunch. Pam Cooper FGS/FSGS 2003 Conference Co-Chair < http://www.fgs.org > President, Florida State Genealogical Society < http://www.rootsweb com/~flsgs/ > Chair, Librarians Serving Genealogists < http://www.cas.usf edu/lis/genealib/ > P. O. Box 7066 Vero Beach, FL 32961-7066 -------Original Message------- From: Peggy Date: Sunday, January 26, 2003 10:46:44 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [FLORIDA] Florida State Library/Archives Thank you for presenting the facts. Is the Jan 30 FLA meeting in Tallahassee open to nonmembers? Peggy Munroe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pam Cooper" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 9:15 AM Subject: [FLORIDA] Florida State Library/Archives > Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk > Pam Cooper, FSGS President > > I have provided you with some very important information based on > conversations that I had with Florida State Archives staff; Executive > Director of the Florida Historical Society, Nick Wynne; Librarians on > the Florida Library Association listserv; Jim Schnur, Special > Collections & Archives, Eckerd College; Robert Austin, President of the > Florida Archaeological Council and reading many, many documents now > available on the Internet. > > In addition, I have contacted and discussed this situation with David > Rencher, chair of the Records Preservation and Access (RPA) > http://www.fgs.org/rpa/ He asked me to write a report based on facts > and it will be posted to the RPA web site. Upon his return from the > American Library Association conference, he will make further contacts > in the library field and ask for support from genealogists and > historians all over the U.S. > > The most disheartening letter that I have read in the last four days is > the letter from our former State Librarian, Barratt Wilkins. He just > retired last month. Please read his email in its entirety at the end of > this email. > > I am asking for your help. Please write, email, visit your legislators. > Make them aware of this very grievous error that they are about to > commit. We cannot lose Florida's treasures. > > The Florida State Genealogical Society board has unanimously approved > joining a coalition to oppose Governor Bush's proposed budget regarding > the dismantling of the Florida State Library and Archives. > > The coalition currently consists of the following organizations: > . Florida Historical Society > . Florida Archaeological Council > . Florida Anthropological Society > . Florida Trust for Historic Preservation > . Florida Association of Museums > > A statement will be drafted the week of Jan 27. It will be discussed > among the coalition chairs and the statement will then be finalized and > sent to the Governor. > > Below are the details as I know them today. > > Facts > 1. The Governor has proposed for the 2003-4 budget ZERO dollars for the > State Library and Information Services > http://www.ebudget.state.fl.us/dtlsearchissue.asp?service_id=45400100&pgm_co mponent_id=0309000000&amp;appr_cat_id=&amp;issue_id=1001000 > > 2. It has been proposed that the state library be eliminated and > transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee by July 1. > > 3. The proposed budget cuts 17.6 million from FSU's state funding and > President T. K. Wetherell said "The way it looks is that someone wants > us to assume a responsibility but with no money (provided)." In > addition, FSU has limited parking, and their own library is lacking so > much space that they use warehouses. The FSU library would need to hire > more staff to facilitate the book processing and increased reference > questions. > > 4. The Florida State Library and Archives division is now part of the > Department of State and is responsible for the state library, the state > archives, state record keeping and library development services/grants > programs for public libraries throughout the state. > > 5. The proposal for the Bureau of Archives and Records Management is for > > the Records Management responsibilities will become a part of the > Department of Management and the State Archives could fall under the > parks department of the Department of Environmental Protection. > > 6. The FloridaMemory.com project will be in jeopardy. This site now > contains the photographic collection (over 90,00 pictures), Florida > Pension Application Files, Spanish Land Grants, Call and Brevard Family > Papers, and many more documents of Florida's early history. > > 7. The Governor's budget must pass the Florida Legislature. Session will > > begin March 4. We still have time to change the tide. > > Below are newspaper articles via the Internet: > > Is state library about to die? - Tallahassee Democrat > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5018483.htm > > Bush: Agency merger would save millions - Tallahassee Democrat > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5000843.htm > > Library could be victim of Bush cuts - Orlando Sentinel > http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclibrary25012503jan25. story > > A LETTER FROM BARRATT WILKINS, RECENTLY RETIRED STATE LIBRARIAN OF THE > FLORIDA STATE LIBRARY > > Folks: > First, thanks to all for their good wishes on my retirement. I hope to > see many of you at the Reception on January 30, so we can visit again > for a short time. I am beginning to settle into my new routines, which > includes time each day in surfing the Internet and WWW. > > During my searching, I came across the Governor's Recommended Budget for > > FY2003-04. I assume many of you have seen the e-version of this document > > by now. It came out on Tuesday. > > One of the most startling changes is the elimination of the Department > of State and the Department of Community Affairs to form a new > "Department of State and Community Partnerships". The two departments > did have a combined workforce of 1026 FTE and a budget of $913,580,202. > The new Department will have a workforce of 597 FTE and a budget of > $740,738,101. ALSO, the divisions of Library and Information Services, > Cultural Affairs, and Historical Resources are eliminated and NOT part > of the new Department. In fact, it is difficult to find the word > "library" in the recommended budget. The new Department has a new > [Division of] Community Planning and Assistance, and within that new > division there is a new unit called "Community Assistance Grants" which > has the responsibility to administer grants for community development > and revitalization ($91.2 million), cultural opportunities ($16.4 > million for cultural and historic preservation grants), EDUCATIONAL > SUPPORT ($45.6 million in library grants and library construction), > executive leadership and support services ($10.1 million -117 positions > to administer grants); and land resources ($82.3 million). Somewhere > between 25 and 29 of the positions in executive leadership and support > services would be assigned administration and support of library grants. > > "Educational Support" is made up of the following grants: > State Aid to Libraries $32.4 million (no change) > Library Cooperative Grants 1.2 million (no change) > Library Construction Grants 5,996,157 > Federal Aid to Libraries 5,996,157 > > It would appear that the only staff assigned to administer these grants > would be the 25-29 positions in current Bureau of Library Development > and Administration Service units, in the current Division of Library and > > Information Services. This would be the ONLY staff! I did learn that an > error was made in the Governor's Recommended Budget, and that instead of > > State Archives and Records Management being transferred to the > Department of Management Services, it is now proposed to be transferred > to the Department of Environmental Protection under State Parks and > Recreation. DEP is going to be the new home for Archives and Records > Management and the staff will be reduced. I suspect that the Florida > Memory program as currently funded would be in jeopardy. The state > Library of Florida (Bureau of Library and Network Services) is slated to > > close effective July 1, 2003, with the layoff of all 36 employees in > that unit. The collections are supposed to go to Florida State > University, although that university does not have any room to house > 10.7 linear miles of materials in the State Library. FSU Library > currently utilizes two warehouses for its overflow collection. The > closure includes the State Library's operations in the Capitol, called > "Legislative Library Services". The antecedents of the State Library > began with Statehood in 1845, and the creation of what became the State > Library was among the first 15 acts of the new state's legislature. > Much of the Florida's history is in the collections: > Florida Collection - contains over 236,000 items including printed > materials, state government document, maps, and microfilm reels. > > There is also an unprecedented 113-file drawer of pamphlets, > manuscripts, and other materials collected by W.T. Cash, Dorothy Dodd, > and State Library staff for nearly 80 years. > > The Florida collection contains materials acquired by the State Library > before the Civil War and during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. > [There is a rumor that this collection would follow the State Archives > to State Parks and Recreation] > > General Collection - contains nearly 900,000 items including bound > books, federal documents, periodicals, films, 9700+ videos with public > performance rights, and materials in the legislative library service. [I > > have heard that one of the reasons to disburse this > collection is because it only had some 70,000 circulations from its > 330,000 bound books collection each year. While this may seem small in > comparison to public libraries, when one compares the circulation to the > > other state libraries in the nation, Florida ranked 10th in circulation. > > Florida also ranked 2nd in the nation in reference transactions and 6th > in public service hours. The State Library is a special library not a > public library and can only be compared with statistics of the other > state libraries.] > > The concept of the Division of Library and Information Services was to > be a "one-stop shop" for Florida residents to have free access to > information about Florida's history, culture, and life in all formats > including visual images, and provide assistance in the development of > library, archival, and records management services statewide. > > Questions for the library community: > With the proposed elimination of the State Library and a cost savings of > > approximately $3 million annually, what happens to the state documents > depository program? What happens to Florida's interlibrary loan network > (FLIN)? Audio-visual services? And will public access to the collections > > be preserved in an academic setting? What is the definition of public > access? > > With the elimination of FLIN, will libraries now be allowed to charge > one another for interlibrary loans? > > What kind of access will be afforded to the State Archives? With a > reduction in staff will lawyers, legislative staff, and other > researchers have as easy an access to these resources as currently > afforded? Will genealogists still have the public access they have > enjoyed? Will the popular Saturday hours continue? How will new > materials for the collection be acquired for the state's genealogy > collection since a portion of the State Library's book budget is > dedicated to that purpose? > > How will FloridaMemory.com be maintained in a DEP setting since it > received some of its support from federal LSTA grants? > > When all of the institutions (State Library, State Archives, Legislative > > Library Services, Records Management and State Records Center) currently > > in the Division of Library and Information Services are no longer > together, how long do you believe that "library grants" and the > consultants in Library Development will survive? One only needs look at > the experience in the Department of Education and the elimination of > consultants for some insight about what may happen. When there is no > longer a "State Library" presence in > Tallahassee, embodied in the R.A. Gray Building, how fast will the > visibility and support for library grants and programs disappear? > > What is going to happen to the Gray Building? Is it to become empty? > > I have been surprised with the SILENCE of the Florida Library > Association about these matters since the news has been out for several > days. Perhaps you should contact the FLA President and find out what > response the Association is going to make to these proposals. I > understand that a meeting called under the auspices of the FLA > Legislative Committee on January 30 at the Leon County Library from 11 > a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist them in developing an FLA response may be > having some difficulties. Are you planning to attend? > Somebody needs to be asking questions. Although I am now retired, as an > honorary life member of FLA I think I have the right to call this > situation to the attention of a wider audience. For those receiving this > > email, I would appreciate your sending it to colleagues on library list > serves and by other means. I no long have the resource to hit a few > buttons and blanket the state with a message. > > Best wishes to all of you!! > Barratt > [email protected] > > > Pam Cooper > FGS/FSGS 2003 Conference Co-Chair < http://www.fgs.org > > President, Florida State Genealogical Society < > http://www.rootsweb.com/~flsgs/ > > Chair, Librarians Serving Genealogists < > http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/genealib/ > > P. O. Box 7066 > Vero Beach, FL 32961-7066 > > > > > . > > > .

Hi everyone - I am Jack Butler's wife and you usually don't hear from me. Well never. I have an idea. When you write you state legislator and the governor, copy Bill Cotterell at the Tallahassee Democrat in Tallahassee. He is the paper's gadfly. Jack and I live and work in the Tallahassee area. Believe me, the legislators read the Tallahassee Democrat - every line. And Bill Cotterell can really write an opinion piece when he smells something reeking. I think we should give it a shot. Can't hurt. - Cheryl, the silent wife. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pam Cooper" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 9:15 AM Subject: [FLORIDA] Florida State Library/Archives > Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk > Pam Cooper, FSGS President > > I have provided you with some very important information based on > conversations that I had with Florida State Archives staff; Executive > Director of the Florida Historical Society, Nick Wynne; Librarians on > the Florida Library Association listserv; Jim Schnur, Special > Collections & Archives, Eckerd College; Robert Austin, President of the > Florida Archaeological Council and reading many, many documents now > available on the Internet. > > In addition, I have contacted and discussed this situation with David > Rencher, chair of the Records Preservation and Access (RPA) > http://www.fgs.org/rpa/ He asked me to write a report based on facts > and it will be posted to the RPA web site. Upon his return from the > American Library Association conference, he will make further contacts > in the library field and ask for support from genealogists and > historians all over the U.S. > > The most disheartening letter that I have read in the last four days is > the letter from our former State Librarian, Barratt Wilkins. He just > retired last month. Please read his email in its entirety at the end of > this email. > > I am asking for your help. Please write, email, visit your legislators. > Make them aware of this very grievous error that they are about to > commit. We cannot lose Florida's treasures. > > The Florida State Genealogical Society board has unanimously approved > joining a coalition to oppose Governor Bush's proposed budget regarding > the dismantling of the Florida State Library and Archives. > > The coalition currently consists of the following organizations: > . Florida Historical Society > . Florida Archaeological Council > . Florida Anthropological Society > . Florida Trust for Historic Preservation > . Florida Association of Museums > > A statement will be drafted the week of Jan 27. It will be discussed > among the coalition chairs and the statement will then be finalized and > sent to the Governor. > > Below are the details as I know them today. > > Facts > 1. The Governor has proposed for the 2003-4 budget ZERO dollars for the > State Library and Information Services > http://www.ebudget.state.fl.us/dtlsearchissue.asp?service_id=45400100&pgm_co mponent_id=0309000000&amp;appr_cat_id=&amp;issue_id=1001000 > > 2. It has been proposed that the state library be eliminated and > transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee by July 1. > > 3. The proposed budget cuts 17.6 million from FSU's state funding and > President T. K. Wetherell said "The way it looks is that someone wants > us to assume a responsibility but with no money (provided)." In > addition, FSU has limited parking, and their own library is lacking so > much space that they use warehouses. The FSU library would need to hire > more staff to facilitate the book processing and increased reference > questions. > > 4. The Florida State Library and Archives division is now part of the > Department of State and is responsible for the state library, the state > archives, state record keeping and library development services/grants > programs for public libraries throughout the state. > > 5. The proposal for the Bureau of Archives and Records Management is for > > the Records Management responsibilities will become a part of the > Department of Management and the State Archives could fall under the > parks department of the Department of Environmental Protection. > > 6. The FloridaMemory.com project will be in jeopardy. This site now > contains the photographic collection (over 90,00 pictures), Florida > Pension Application Files, Spanish Land Grants, Call and Brevard Family > Papers, and many more documents of Florida's early history. > > 7. The Governor's budget must pass the Florida Legislature. Session will > > begin March 4. We still have time to change the tide. > > Below are newspaper articles via the Internet: > > Is state library about to die? - Tallahassee Democrat > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5018483.htm > > Bush: Agency merger would save millions - Tallahassee Democrat > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5000843.htm > > Library could be victim of Bush cuts - Orlando Sentinel > http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclibrary25012503jan25. story > > A LETTER FROM BARRATT WILKINS, RECENTLY RETIRED STATE LIBRARIAN OF THE > FLORIDA STATE LIBRARY > > Folks: > First, thanks to all for their good wishes on my retirement. I hope to > see many of you at the Reception on January 30, so we can visit again > for a short time. I am beginning to settle into my new routines, which > includes time each day in surfing the Internet and WWW. > > During my searching, I came across the Governor's Recommended Budget for > > FY2003-04. I assume many of you have seen the e-version of this document > > by now. It came out on Tuesday. > > One of the most startling changes is the elimination of the Department > of State and the Department of Community Affairs to form a new > "Department of State and Community Partnerships". The two departments > did have a combined workforce of 1026 FTE and a budget of $913,580,202. > The new Department will have a workforce of 597 FTE and a budget of > $740,738,101. ALSO, the divisions of Library and Information Services, > Cultural Affairs, and Historical Resources are eliminated and NOT part > of the new Department. In fact, it is difficult to find the word > "library" in the recommended budget. The new Department has a new > [Division of] Community Planning and Assistance, and within that new > division there is a new unit called "Community Assistance Grants" which > has the responsibility to administer grants for community development > and revitalization ($91.2 million), cultural opportunities ($16.4 > million for cultural and historic preservation grants), EDUCATIONAL > SUPPORT ($45.6 million in library grants and library construction), > executive leadership and support services ($10.1 million -117 positions > to administer grants); and land resources ($82.3 million). Somewhere > between 25 and 29 of the positions in executive leadership and support > services would be assigned administration and support of library grants. > > "Educational Support" is made up of the following grants: > State Aid to Libraries $32.4 million (no change) > Library Cooperative Grants 1.2 million (no change) > Library Construction Grants 5,996,157 > Federal Aid to Libraries 5,996,157 > > It would appear that the only staff assigned to administer these grants > would be the 25-29 positions in current Bureau of Library Development > and Administration Service units, in the current Division of Library and > > Information Services. This would be the ONLY staff! I did learn that an > error was made in the Governor's Recommended Budget, and that instead of > > State Archives and Records Management being transferred to the > Department of Management Services, it is now proposed to be transferred > to the Department of Environmental Protection under State Parks and > Recreation. DEP is going to be the new home for Archives and Records > Management and the staff will be reduced. I suspect that the Florida > Memory program as currently funded would be in jeopardy. The state > Library of Florida (Bureau of Library and Network Services) is slated to > > close effective July 1, 2003, with the layoff of all 36 employees in > that unit. The collections are supposed to go to Florida State > University, although that university does not have any room to house > 10.7 linear miles of materials in the State Library. FSU Library > currently utilizes two warehouses for its overflow collection. The > closure includes the State Library's operations in the Capitol, called > "Legislative Library Services". The antecedents of the State Library > began with Statehood in 1845, and the creation of what became the State > Library was among the first 15 acts of the new state's legislature. > Much of the Florida's history is in the collections: > Florida Collection - contains over 236,000 items including printed > materials, state government document, maps, and microfilm reels. > > There is also an unprecedented 113-file drawer of pamphlets, > manuscripts, and other materials collected by W.T. Cash, Dorothy Dodd, > and State Library staff for nearly 80 years. > > The Florida collection contains materials acquired by the State Library > before the Civil War and during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. > [There is a rumor that this collection would follow the State Archives > to State Parks and Recreation] > > General Collection - contains nearly 900,000 items including bound > books, federal documents, periodicals, films, 9700+ videos with public > performance rights, and materials in the legislative library service. [I > > have heard that one of the reasons to disburse this > collection is because it only had some 70,000 circulations from its > 330,000 bound books collection each year. While this may seem small in > comparison to public libraries, when one compares the circulation to the > > other state libraries in the nation, Florida ranked 10th in circulation. > > Florida also ranked 2nd in the nation in reference transactions and 6th > in public service hours. The State Library is a special library not a > public library and can only be compared with statistics of the other > state libraries.] > > The concept of the Division of Library and Information Services was to > be a "one-stop shop" for Florida residents to have free access to > information about Florida's history, culture, and life in all formats > including visual images, and provide assistance in the development of > library, archival, and records management services statewide. > > Questions for the library community: > With the proposed elimination of the State Library and a cost savings of > > approximately $3 million annually, what happens to the state documents > depository program? What happens to Florida's interlibrary loan network > (FLIN)? Audio-visual services? And will public access to the collections > > be preserved in an academic setting? What is the definition of public > access? > > With the elimination of FLIN, will libraries now be allowed to charge > one another for interlibrary loans? > > What kind of access will be afforded to the State Archives? With a > reduction in staff will lawyers, legislative staff, and other > researchers have as easy an access to these resources as currently > afforded? Will genealogists still have the public access they have > enjoyed? Will the popular Saturday hours continue? How will new > materials for the collection be acquired for the state's genealogy > collection since a portion of the State Library's book budget is > dedicated to that purpose? > > How will FloridaMemory.com be maintained in a DEP setting since it > received some of its support from federal LSTA grants? > > When all of the institutions (State Library, State Archives, Legislative > > Library Services, Records Management and State Records Center) currently > > in the Division of Library and Information Services are no longer > together, how long do you believe that "library grants" and the > consultants in Library Development will survive? One only needs look at > the experience in the Department of Education and the elimination of > consultants for some insight about what may happen. When there is no > longer a "State Library" presence in > Tallahassee, embodied in the R.A. Gray Building, how fast will the > visibility and support for library grants and programs disappear? > > What is going to happen to the Gray Building? Is it to become empty? > > I have been surprised with the SILENCE of the Florida Library > Association about these matters since the news has been out for several > days. Perhaps you should contact the FLA President and find out what > response the Association is going to make to these proposals. I > understand that a meeting called under the auspices of the FLA > Legislative Committee on January 30 at the Leon County Library from 11 > a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist them in developing an FLA response may be > having some difficulties. Are you planning to attend? > Somebody needs to be asking questions. Although I am now retired, as an > honorary life member of FLA I think I have the right to call this > situation to the attention of a wider audience. For those receiving this > > email, I would appreciate your sending it to colleagues on library list > serves and by other means. I no long have the resource to hit a few > buttons and blanket the state with a message. > > Best wishes to all of you!! > Barratt > [email protected] > > > Pam Cooper > FGS/FSGS 2003 Conference Co-Chair < http://www.fgs.org > > President, Florida State Genealogical Society < > http://www.rootsweb.com/~flsgs/ > > Chair, Librarians Serving Genealogists < > http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/genealib/ > > P. O. Box 7066 > Vero Beach, FL 32961-7066 > > > > > . > >

Thank you for presenting the facts. Is the Jan 30 FLA meeting in Tallahassee open to nonmembers? Peggy Munroe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pam Cooper" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 9:15 AM Subject: [FLORIDA] Florida State Library/Archives > Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk > Pam Cooper, FSGS President > > I have provided you with some very important information based on > conversations that I had with Florida State Archives staff; Executive > Director of the Florida Historical Society, Nick Wynne; Librarians on > the Florida Library Association listserv; Jim Schnur, Special > Collections & Archives, Eckerd College; Robert Austin, President of the > Florida Archaeological Council and reading many, many documents now > available on the Internet. > > In addition, I have contacted and discussed this situation with David > Rencher, chair of the Records Preservation and Access (RPA) > http://www.fgs.org/rpa/ He asked me to write a report based on facts > and it will be posted to the RPA web site. Upon his return from the > American Library Association conference, he will make further contacts > in the library field and ask for support from genealogists and > historians all over the U.S. > > The most disheartening letter that I have read in the last four days is > the letter from our former State Librarian, Barratt Wilkins. He just > retired last month. Please read his email in its entirety at the end of > this email. > > I am asking for your help. Please write, email, visit your legislators. > Make them aware of this very grievous error that they are about to > commit. We cannot lose Florida's treasures. > > The Florida State Genealogical Society board has unanimously approved > joining a coalition to oppose Governor Bush's proposed budget regarding > the dismantling of the Florida State Library and Archives. > > The coalition currently consists of the following organizations: > . Florida Historical Society > . Florida Archaeological Council > . Florida Anthropological Society > . Florida Trust for Historic Preservation > . Florida Association of Museums > > A statement will be drafted the week of Jan 27. It will be discussed > among the coalition chairs and the statement will then be finalized and > sent to the Governor. > > Below are the details as I know them today. > > Facts > 1. The Governor has proposed for the 2003-4 budget ZERO dollars for the > State Library and Information Services > http://www.ebudget.state.fl.us/dtlsearchissue.asp?service_id=45400100&pgm_co mponent_id=0309000000&amp;appr_cat_id=&amp;issue_id=1001000 > > 2. It has been proposed that the state library be eliminated and > transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee by July 1. > > 3. The proposed budget cuts 17.6 million from FSU's state funding and > President T. K. Wetherell said "The way it looks is that someone wants > us to assume a responsibility but with no money (provided)." In > addition, FSU has limited parking, and their own library is lacking so > much space that they use warehouses. The FSU library would need to hire > more staff to facilitate the book processing and increased reference > questions. > > 4. The Florida State Library and Archives division is now part of the > Department of State and is responsible for the state library, the state > archives, state record keeping and library development services/grants > programs for public libraries throughout the state. > > 5. The proposal for the Bureau of Archives and Records Management is for > > the Records Management responsibilities will become a part of the > Department of Management and the State Archives could fall under the > parks department of the Department of Environmental Protection. > > 6. The FloridaMemory.com project will be in jeopardy. This site now > contains the photographic collection (over 90,00 pictures), Florida > Pension Application Files, Spanish Land Grants, Call and Brevard Family > Papers, and many more documents of Florida's early history. > > 7. The Governor's budget must pass the Florida Legislature. Session will > > begin March 4. We still have time to change the tide. > > Below are newspaper articles via the Internet: > > Is state library about to die? - Tallahassee Democrat > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5018483.htm > > Bush: Agency merger would save millions - Tallahassee Democrat > http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5000843.htm > > Library could be victim of Bush cuts - Orlando Sentinel > http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclibrary25012503jan25. story > > A LETTER FROM BARRATT WILKINS, RECENTLY RETIRED STATE LIBRARIAN OF THE > FLORIDA STATE LIBRARY > > Folks: > First, thanks to all for their good wishes on my retirement. I hope to > see many of you at the Reception on January 30, so we can visit again > for a short time. I am beginning to settle into my new routines, which > includes time each day in surfing the Internet and WWW. > > During my searching, I came across the Governor's Recommended Budget for > > FY2003-04. I assume many of you have seen the e-version of this document > > by now. It came out on Tuesday. > > One of the most startling changes is the elimination of the Department > of State and the Department of Community Affairs to form a new > "Department of State and Community Partnerships". The two departments > did have a combined workforce of 1026 FTE and a budget of $913,580,202. > The new Department will have a workforce of 597 FTE and a budget of > $740,738,101. ALSO, the divisions of Library and Information Services, > Cultural Affairs, and Historical Resources are eliminated and NOT part > of the new Department. In fact, it is difficult to find the word > "library" in the recommended budget. The new Department has a new > [Division of] Community Planning and Assistance, and within that new > division there is a new unit called "Community Assistance Grants" which > has the responsibility to administer grants for community development > and revitalization ($91.2 million), cultural opportunities ($16.4 > million for cultural and historic preservation grants), EDUCATIONAL > SUPPORT ($45.6 million in library grants and library construction), > executive leadership and support services ($10.1 million -117 positions > to administer grants); and land resources ($82.3 million). Somewhere > between 25 and 29 of the positions in executive leadership and support > services would be assigned administration and support of library grants. > > "Educational Support" is made up of the following grants: > State Aid to Libraries $32.4 million (no change) > Library Cooperative Grants 1.2 million (no change) > Library Construction Grants 5,996,157 > Federal Aid to Libraries 5,996,157 > > It would appear that the only staff assigned to administer these grants > would be the 25-29 positions in current Bureau of Library Development > and Administration Service units, in the current Division of Library and > > Information Services. This would be the ONLY staff! I did learn that an > error was made in the Governor's Recommended Budget, and that instead of > > State Archives and Records Management being transferred to the > Department of Management Services, it is now proposed to be transferred > to the Department of Environmental Protection under State Parks and > Recreation. DEP is going to be the new home for Archives and Records > Management and the staff will be reduced. I suspect that the Florida > Memory program as currently funded would be in jeopardy. The state > Library of Florida (Bureau of Library and Network Services) is slated to > > close effective July 1, 2003, with the layoff of all 36 employees in > that unit. The collections are supposed to go to Florida State > University, although that university does not have any room to house > 10.7 linear miles of materials in the State Library. FSU Library > currently utilizes two warehouses for its overflow collection. The > closure includes the State Library's operations in the Capitol, called > "Legislative Library Services". The antecedents of the State Library > began with Statehood in 1845, and the creation of what became the State > Library was among the first 15 acts of the new state's legislature. > Much of the Florida's history is in the collections: > Florida Collection - contains over 236,000 items including printed > materials, state government document, maps, and microfilm reels. > > There is also an unprecedented 113-file drawer of pamphlets, > manuscripts, and other materials collected by W.T. Cash, Dorothy Dodd, > and State Library staff for nearly 80 years. > > The Florida collection contains materials acquired by the State Library > before the Civil War and during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. > [There is a rumor that this collection would follow the State Archives > to State Parks and Recreation] > > General Collection - contains nearly 900,000 items including bound > books, federal documents, periodicals, films, 9700+ videos with public > performance rights, and materials in the legislative library service. [I > > have heard that one of the reasons to disburse this > collection is because it only had some 70,000 circulations from its > 330,000 bound books collection each year. While this may seem small in > comparison to public libraries, when one compares the circulation to the > > other state libraries in the nation, Florida ranked 10th in circulation. > > Florida also ranked 2nd in the nation in reference transactions and 6th > in public service hours. The State Library is a special library not a > public library and can only be compared with statistics of the other > state libraries.] > > The concept of the Division of Library and Information Services was to > be a "one-stop shop" for Florida residents to have free access to > information about Florida's history, culture, and life in all formats > including visual images, and provide assistance in the development of > library, archival, and records management services statewide. > > Questions for the library community: > With the proposed elimination of the State Library and a cost savings of > > approximately $3 million annually, what happens to the state documents > depository program? What happens to Florida's interlibrary loan network > (FLIN)? Audio-visual services? And will public access to the collections > > be preserved in an academic setting? What is the definition of public > access? > > With the elimination of FLIN, will libraries now be allowed to charge > one another for interlibrary loans? > > What kind of access will be afforded to the State Archives? With a > reduction in staff will lawyers, legislative staff, and other > researchers have as easy an access to these resources as currently > afforded? Will genealogists still have the public access they have > enjoyed? Will the popular Saturday hours continue? How will new > materials for the collection be acquired for the state's genealogy > collection since a portion of the State Library's book budget is > dedicated to that purpose? > > How will FloridaMemory.com be maintained in a DEP setting since it > received some of its support from federal LSTA grants? > > When all of the institutions (State Library, State Archives, Legislative > > Library Services, Records Management and State Records Center) currently > > in the Division of Library and Information Services are no longer > together, how long do you believe that "library grants" and the > consultants in Library Development will survive? One only needs look at > the experience in the Department of Education and the elimination of > consultants for some insight about what may happen. When there is no > longer a "State Library" presence in > Tallahassee, embodied in the R.A. Gray Building, how fast will the > visibility and support for library grants and programs disappear? > > What is going to happen to the Gray Building? Is it to become empty? > > I have been surprised with the SILENCE of the Florida Library > Association about these matters since the news has been out for several > days. Perhaps you should contact the FLA President and find out what > response the Association is going to make to these proposals. I > understand that a meeting called under the auspices of the FLA > Legislative Committee on January 30 at the Leon County Library from 11 > a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist them in developing an FLA response may be > having some difficulties. Are you planning to attend? > Somebody needs to be asking questions. Although I am now retired, as an > honorary life member of FLA I think I have the right to call this > situation to the attention of a wider audience. For those receiving this > > email, I would appreciate your sending it to colleagues on library list > serves and by other means. I no long have the resource to hit a few > buttons and blanket the state with a message. > > Best wishes to all of you!! > Barratt > [email protected] > > > Pam Cooper > FGS/FSGS 2003 Conference Co-Chair < http://www.fgs.org > > President, Florida State Genealogical Society < > http://www.rootsweb.com/~flsgs/ > > Chair, Librarians Serving Genealogists < > http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/genealib/ > > P. O. Box 7066 > Vero Beach, FL 32961-7066 > > > > > . > > >

Florida's Historical Treasures Are at Risk Pam Cooper, FSGS President I have provided you with some very important information based on conversations that I had with Florida State Archives staff; Executive Director of the Florida Historical Society, Nick Wynne; Librarians on the Florida Library Association listserv; Jim Schnur, Special Collections & Archives, Eckerd College; Robert Austin, President of the Florida Archaeological Council and reading many, many documents now available on the Internet. In addition, I have contacted and discussed this situation with David Rencher, chair of the Records Preservation and Access (RPA) http://www.fgs.org/rpa/ He asked me to write a report based on facts and it will be posted to the RPA web site. Upon his return from the American Library Association conference, he will make further contacts in the library field and ask for support from genealogists and historians all over the U.S. The most disheartening letter that I have read in the last four days is the letter from our former State Librarian, Barratt Wilkins. He just retired last month. Please read his email in its entirety at the end of this email. I am asking for your help. Please write, email, visit your legislators. Make them aware of this very grievous error that they are about to commit. We cannot lose Florida's treasures. The Florida State Genealogical Society board has unanimously approved joining a coalition to oppose Governor Bush’s proposed budget regarding the dismantling of the Florida State Library and Archives. The coalition currently consists of the following organizations: • Florida Historical Society • Florida Archaeological Council • Florida Anthropological Society • Florida Trust for Historic Preservation • Florida Association of Museums A statement will be drafted the week of Jan 27. It will be discussed among the coalition chairs and the statement will then be finalized and sent to the Governor. Below are the details as I know them today. Facts 1. The Governor has proposed for the 2003-4 budget ZERO dollars for the State Library and Information Services http://www.ebudget.state.fl.us/dtlsearchissue.asp?service_id=45400100&pgm_component_id=0309000000&amp;appr_cat_id=&amp;issue_id=1001000 2. It has been proposed that the state library be eliminated and transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee by July 1. 3. The proposed budget cuts 17.6 million from FSU’s state funding and President T. K. Wetherell said “The way it looks is that someone wants us to assume a responsibility but with no money (provided).” In addition, FSU has limited parking, and their own library is lacking so much space that they use warehouses. The FSU library would need to hire more staff to facilitate the book processing and increased reference questions. 4. The Florida State Library and Archives division is now part of the Department of State and is responsible for the state library, the state archives, state record keeping and library development services/grants programs for public libraries throughout the state. 5. The proposal for the Bureau of Archives and Records Management is for the Records Management responsibilities will become a part of the Department of Management and the State Archives could fall under the parks department of the Department of Environmental Protection. 6. The FloridaMemory.com project will be in jeopardy. This site now contains the photographic collection (over 90,00 pictures), Florida Pension Application Files, Spanish Land Grants, Call and Brevard Family Papers, and many more documents of Florida’s early history. 7. The Governor’s budget must pass the Florida Legislature. Session will begin March 4. We still have time to change the tide. Below are newspaper articles via the Internet: Is state library about to die? - Tallahassee Democrat http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5018483.htm Bush: Agency merger would save millions - Tallahassee Democrat http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/5000843.htm Library could be victim of Bush cuts - Orlando Sentinel http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclibrary25012503jan25.story A LETTER FROM BARRATT WILKINS, RECENTLY RETIRED STATE LIBRARIAN OF THE FLORIDA STATE LIBRARY Folks: First, thanks to all for their good wishes on my retirement. I hope to see many of you at the Reception on January 30, so we can visit again for a short time. I am beginning to settle into my new routines, which includes time each day in surfing the Internet and WWW. During my searching, I came across the Governor's Recommended Budget for FY2003-04. I assume many of you have seen the e-version of this document by now. It came out on Tuesday. One of the most startling changes is the elimination of the Department of State and the Department of Community Affairs to form a new "Department of State and Community Partnerships". The two departments did have a combined workforce of 1026 FTE and a budget of $913,580,202. The new Department will have a workforce of 597 FTE and a budget of $740,738,101. ALSO, the divisions of Library and Information Services, Cultural Affairs, and Historical Resources are eliminated and NOT part of the new Department. In fact, it is difficult to find the word "library" in the recommended budget. The new Department has a new [Division of] Community Planning and Assistance, and within that new division there is a new unit called "Community Assistance Grants" which has the responsibility to administer grants for community development and revitalization ($91.2 million), cultural opportunities ($16.4 million for cultural and historic preservation grants), EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT ($45.6 million in library grants and library construction), executive leadership and support services ($10.1 million -117 positions to administer grants); and land resources ($82.3 million). Somewhere between 25 and 29 of the positions in executive leadership and support services would be assigned administration and support of library grants. "Educational Support" is made up of the following grants: State Aid to Libraries $32.4 million (no change) Library Cooperative Grants 1.2 million (no change) Library Construction Grants 5,996,157 Federal Aid to Libraries 5,996,157 It would appear that the only staff assigned to administer these grants would be the 25-29 positions in current Bureau of Library Development and Administration Service units, in the current Division of Library and Information Services. This would be the ONLY staff! I did learn that an error was made in the Governor's Recommended Budget, and that instead of State Archives and Records Management being transferred to the Department of Management Services, it is now proposed to be transferred to the Department of Environmental Protection under State Parks and Recreation. DEP is going to be the new home for Archives and Records Management and the staff will be reduced. I suspect that the Florida Memory program as currently funded would be in jeopardy. The state Library of Florida (Bureau of Library and Network Services) is slated to close effective July 1, 2003, with the layoff of all 36 employees in that unit. The collections are supposed to go to Florida State University, although that university does not have any room to house 10.7 linear miles of materials in the State Library. FSU Library currently utilizes two warehouses for its overflow collection. The closure includes the State Library's operations in the Capitol, called "Legislative Library Services". The antecedents of the State Library began with Statehood in 1845, and the creation of what became the State Library was among the first 15 acts of the new state's legislature. Much of the Florida's history is in the collections: Florida Collection - contains over 236,000 items including printed materials, state government document, maps, and microfilm reels. There is also an unprecedented 113-file drawer of pamphlets, manuscripts, and other materials collected by W.T. Cash, Dorothy Dodd, and State Library staff for nearly 80 years. The Florida collection contains materials acquired by the State Library before the Civil War and during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [There is a rumor that this collection would follow the State Archives to State Parks and Recreation] General Collection - contains nearly 900,000 items including bound books, federal documents, periodicals, films, 9700+ videos with public performance rights, and materials in the legislative library service. [I have heard that one of the reasons to disburse this collection is because it only had some 70,000 circulations from its 330,000 bound books collection each year. While this may seem small in comparison to public libraries, when one compares the circulation to the other state libraries in the nation, Florida ranked 10th in circulation. Florida also ranked 2nd in the nation in reference transactions and 6th in public service hours. The State Library is a special library not a public library and can only be compared with statistics of the other state libraries.] The concept of the Division of Library and Information Services was to be a "one-stop shop" for Florida residents to have free access to information about Florida's history, culture, and life in all formats including visual images, and provide assistance in the development of library, archival, and records management services statewide. Questions for the library community: With the proposed elimination of the State Library and a cost savings of approximately $3 million annually, what happens to the state documents depository program? What happens to Florida's interlibrary loan network (FLIN)? Audio-visual services? And will public access to the collections be preserved in an academic setting? What is the definition of public access? With the elimination of FLIN, will libraries now be allowed to charge one another for interlibrary loans? What kind of access will be afforded to the State Archives? With a reduction in staff will lawyers, legislative staff, and other researchers have as easy an access to these resources as currently afforded? Will genealogists still have the public access they have enjoyed? Will the popular Saturday hours continue? How will new materials for the collection be acquired for the state's genealogy collection since a portion of the State Library's book budget is dedicated to that purpose? How will FloridaMemory.com be maintained in a DEP setting since it received some of its support from federal LSTA grants? When all of the institutions (State Library, State Archives, Legislative Library Services, Records Management and State Records Center) currently in the Division of Library and Information Services are no longer together, how long do you believe that "library grants" and the consultants in Library Development will survive? One only needs look at the experience in the Department of Education and the elimination of consultants for some insight about what may happen. When there is no longer a "State Library" presence in Tallahassee, embodied in the R.A. Gray Building, how fast will the visibility and support for library grants and programs disappear? What is going to happen to the Gray Building? Is it to become empty? I have been surprised with the SILENCE of the Florida Library Association about these matters since the news has been out for several days. Perhaps you should contact the FLA President and find out what response the Association is going to make to these proposals. I understand that a meeting called under the auspices of the FLA Legislative Committee on January 30 at the Leon County Library from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist them in developing an FLA response may be having some difficulties. Are you planning to attend? Somebody needs to be asking questions. Although I am now retired, as an honorary life member of FLA I think I have the right to call this situation to the attention of a wider audience. For those receiving this email, I would appreciate your sending it to colleagues on library list serves and by other means. I no long have the resource to hit a few buttons and blanket the state with a message. Best wishes to all of you!! Barratt [email protected] Pam Cooper FGS/FSGS 2003 Conference Co-Chair < http://www.fgs.org > President, Florida State Genealogical Society < http://www.rootsweb.com/~flsgs/ > Chair, Librarians Serving Genealogists < http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/genealib/ > P. O. Box 7066 Vero Beach, FL 32961-7066 .

Hi, I am new to the list and am looking for info on CHARLES J. FORSYTH(E) b. abt. 1862 or 1863 in Indiana married to LUCY b. abt. 1867 in Indiana Known Children: ELDON b. 1897 in Indiana DANIEL b. 1898 or 1899 in Indiana RUBY b. 1910 in Pa CHARLES F. b. abt. 1895 in Indiana married JULIA ? Some Related Surnames: CONDIT, MCBRIDE, WADE, BURGER, BUNCH, SMITH Nancy Washington Twp., Mi.

I will now join other in asking that listers take the politics out of their posts. Because if folks keeping pushing one point of view, I will start to feel honor bound to stick up for the other. And frankly, I would rather not have to do that on these lists. Jack ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peggy" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 6:16 PM Subject: Re: [FLORIDA] Oblivion of Florida's History > I, too, hope we can save the library & archives. However, I would hate to > see this issue turn this list into a political forum. Gov Bush was not in > favor of the class size amendment (although his opponent was) & warned us > that paying for it would come at a sacrifice. It is not a sacrifice we want > to make so let's try to find a positive way to save our library. > > Peggy Munroe > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Richard White" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 2:09 PM > Subject: [FLORIDA] Oblivion of Florida's History > > > > > > Oblivion of Florida's History > > > > What is proposed by the governor in regard to dispersion of the programs > > of the Florida Department of State is so totally "off the wall" I can't > > help but hope and believe it will be if not blocked altogether, at least > > modified substantially in the legislature. But any way you want to look > > at it, this proposal appears to be an all out assault on Florida's > > history and historical consciousness. The archives serves a variety of > > related lesser purposes, but its primary purpose is to serve as the > > official repository of the permanent records of the state and hence its > > institutional memory. Turning those records over to a university (not > > that I have anything against FSU... I have a couple of degrees from > > FSU)... any university, defies the most basic and essential function of > > the archives. So does separating the archives from the records > > management functions which feed records in a progression from current > > use to archival preservation... weeding out the dross of records with > > only transient values along the way; and so does putting the state > > library or its holdings at FSU. It's not clear to me where the archives > > are destined for... the Department of Management Services or FSU, but > > such collections as exist in the library are pretty skeletal given > > Florida's long history and only fairly recently begun efforts to collect > > materials about it. Such an off-center movement of these programs can > > only damage them. As constituted, the state library & archives are > > primarily oriented towards serving governmental information needs and > > the general public of the state. Many of the holdings of the library > > and archives are part in one and part in the other of the two > > repositories. It's not unusual to find an index in the archives and the > > set of volumes to which it refers in the library... or vice versa. If > > archives & library go to FSU but stay in the same building and work > > pretty much under current procedures... that could work after a fashion. > > But the existing university libraries are oriented towards serving > > students and faculty of the particular institution, and, to a lesser > > degree, academic researchers in general. Under existing policies & > > procedures at the FSU Strozier & other libraries, I and most other > > non-student and non-faculty people would have difficulty even checking > > out a book there... whereas the circulating materials of the state > > library are presently open to be checked out by virtually anyone. And > > turning over an archives or even the records management function to a > > housekeeping organization like the Department of Management Services is > > scary. Their focus is almost assured to be far more on the dustbin, > > than on history. Granted, both the state library and the archives have > > many materials that do not circulate & would not circulate no matter who > > their custodian is... but putting them at FSU would be pretty much like > > redesigning the human body and putting the brain in the left thumb: not > > impossible to do, just really, really not appropriate.. The same goes > > for putting museum programs into the Department of Environmental > > Protection. Their focus is upon the environment and stewardship of > > land, not cultural artifacts. Yes, the parks do include related > > programs but the cluster of historical programs under the office of the > > secretary of state were put together because they have synergistic > > relationships to each other and central integrating functions. Putting > > this kind of nexus of programs together is part of a general pattern of > > organization in state governments because good reasons for doing so have > > general recognition. > > > > Supposedly the dispersion of these programs is about saving money; but > > that makes no sense. Saying that it is about money must be a pretense. > > Either our historical and cultural programs are going to continue, in > > which SOME INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT are going to have continue to pay > > the cost, or they're going to be tossed on a scrap pile. Both the > > universities and the state government are drawing funds from > > approximately the same sources, but the sources as related to the > > purposes of these programs make much more sense together and in the > > domain of general government than scattered across academia and > > submerged into other tangentially related programs. There are no > > significant staffing or facility efficiencies that can be obtained by > > breaking these programs up. The only assured result of a break-up is > > diminution of the functioning of the programs, even if their staffing > > isn't reduced... and sure enough that is proposed too. The Department > > of State is a tiny portion of state government. The only way that any > > substantial amount of money from any source could be saved by altering > > the organizational basis of the programs now part of it, is, essentially > > by wiping them out, either altogether or pretty close to it. The next > > step after dispersing these cultural and historical programs, would be > > to whittle further away at them through time... and this would almost > > automatically ensue, because in each case they are proposed to be put > > out on the periphery of the mission and programs of their proposed new > > institutional "home away from home", and money is tight everywhere. > > > > The thing that is the most scary about this proposal, is that it appears > > to be indicative on the governor's part, not just of an indifference... > > but of an active animosity, hatred or loathing against knowledgable > > institutions in state government and preservation of and access to > > information about our state's history. From where I stand it appears > > that the man who is supposed to be governing the state has taken a > > notion to overthrow it and if not absolutely destroy, at least dissolve, > > scatter, dissipate to the winds, and greatly diminish the fundamental > > ability of both our people and our government to learn of our own past. > > > > Richard White > > South Gadsden Street > > Tallahassee, FL > > > > > >

I, too, hope we can save the library & archives. However, I would hate to see this issue turn this list into a political forum. Gov Bush was not in favor of the class size amendment (although his opponent was) & warned us that paying for it would come at a sacrifice. It is not a sacrifice we want to make so let's try to find a positive way to save our library. Peggy Munroe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard White" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 2:09 PM Subject: [FLORIDA] Oblivion of Florida's History > > Oblivion of Florida's History > > What is proposed by the governor in regard to dispersion of the programs > of the Florida Department of State is so totally "off the wall" I can't > help but hope and believe it will be if not blocked altogether, at least > modified substantially in the legislature. But any way you want to look > at it, this proposal appears to be an all out assault on Florida's > history and historical consciousness. The archives serves a variety of > related lesser purposes, but its primary purpose is to serve as the > official repository of the permanent records of the state and hence its > institutional memory. Turning those records over to a university (not > that I have anything against FSU... I have a couple of degrees from > FSU)... any university, defies the most basic and essential function of > the archives. So does separating the archives from the records > management functions which feed records in a progression from current > use to archival preservation... weeding out the dross of records with > only transient values along the way; and so does putting the state > library or its holdings at FSU. It's not clear to me where the archives > are destined for... the Department of Management Services or FSU, but > such collections as exist in the library are pretty skeletal given > Florida's long history and only fairly recently begun efforts to collect > materials about it. Such an off-center movement of these programs can > only damage them. As constituted, the state library & archives are > primarily oriented towards serving governmental information needs and > the general public of the state. Many of the holdings of the library > and archives are part in one and part in the other of the two > repositories. It's not unusual to find an index in the archives and the > set of volumes to which it refers in the library... or vice versa. If > archives & library go to FSU but stay in the same building and work > pretty much under current procedures... that could work after a fashion. > But the existing university libraries are oriented towards serving > students and faculty of the particular institution, and, to a lesser > degree, academic researchers in general. Under existing policies & > procedures at the FSU Strozier & other libraries, I and most other > non-student and non-faculty people would have difficulty even checking > out a book there... whereas the circulating materials of the state > library are presently open to be checked out by virtually anyone. And > turning over an archives or even the records management function to a > housekeeping organization like the Department of Management Services is > scary. Their focus is almost assured to be far more on the dustbin, > than on history. Granted, both the state library and the archives have > many materials that do not circulate & would not circulate no matter who > their custodian is... but putting them at FSU would be pretty much like > redesigning the human body and putting the brain in the left thumb: not > impossible to do, just really, really not appropriate.. The same goes > for putting museum programs into the Department of Environmental > Protection. Their focus is upon the environment and stewardship of > land, not cultural artifacts. Yes, the parks do include related > programs but the cluster of historical programs under the office of the > secretary of state were put together because they have synergistic > relationships to each other and central integrating functions. Putting > this kind of nexus of programs together is part of a general pattern of > organization in state governments because good reasons for doing so have > general recognition. > > Supposedly the dispersion of these programs is about saving money; but > that makes no sense. Saying that it is about money must be a pretense. > Either our historical and cultural programs are going to continue, in > which SOME INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT are going to have continue to pay > the cost, or they're going to be tossed on a scrap pile. Both the > universities and the state government are drawing funds from > approximately the same sources, but the sources as related to the > purposes of these programs make much more sense together and in the > domain of general government than scattered across academia and > submerged into other tangentially related programs. There are no > significant staffing or facility efficiencies that can be obtained by > breaking these programs up. The only assured result of a break-up is > diminution of the functioning of the programs, even if their staffing > isn't reduced... and sure enough that is proposed too. The Department > of State is a tiny portion of state government. The only way that any > substantial amount of money from any source could be saved by altering > the organizational basis of the programs now part of it, is, essentially > by wiping them out, either altogether or pretty close to it. The next > step after dispersing these cultural and historical programs, would be > to whittle further away at them through time... and this would almost > automatically ensue, because in each case they are proposed to be put > out on the periphery of the mission and programs of their proposed new > institutional "home away from home", and money is tight everywhere. > > The thing that is the most scary about this proposal, is that it appears > to be indicative on the governor's part, not just of an indifference... > but of an active animosity, hatred or loathing against knowledgable > institutions in state government and preservation of and access to > information about our state's history. From where I stand it appears > that the man who is supposed to be governing the state has taken a > notion to overthrow it and if not absolutely destroy, at least dissolve, > scatter, dissipate to the winds, and greatly diminish the fundamental > ability of both our people and our government to learn of our own past. > > Richard White > South Gadsden Street > Tallahassee, FL > >

Oblivion of Florida's History What is proposed by the governor in regard to dispersion of the programs of the Florida Department of State is so totally "off the wall" I can't help but hope and believe it will be if not blocked altogether, at least modified substantially in the legislature. But any way you want to look at it, this proposal appears to be an all out assault on Florida's history and historical consciousness. The archives serves a variety of related lesser purposes, but its primary purpose is to serve as the official repository of the permanent records of the state and hence its institutional memory. Turning those records over to a university (not that I have anything against FSU... I have a couple of degrees from FSU)... any university, defies the most basic and essential function of the archives. So does separating the archives from the records management functions which feed records in a progression from current use to archival preservation... weeding out the dross of records with only transient values along the way; and so does putting the state library or its holdings at FSU. It's not clear to me where the archives are destined for... the Department of Management Services or FSU, but such collections as exist in the library are pretty skeletal given Florida's long history and only fairly recently begun efforts to collect materials about it. Such an off-center movement of these programs can only damage them. As constituted, the state library & archives are primarily oriented towards serving governmental information needs and the general public of the state. Many of the holdings of the library and archives are part in one and part in the other of the two repositories. It's not unusual to find an index in the archives and the set of volumes to which it refers in the library... or vice versa. If archives & library go to FSU but stay in the same building and work pretty much under current procedures... that could work after a fashion. But the existing university libraries are oriented towards serving students and faculty of the particular institution, and, to a lesser degree, academic researchers in general. Under existing policies & procedures at the FSU Strozier & other libraries, I and most other non-student and non-faculty people would have difficulty even checking out a book there... whereas the circulating materials of the state library are presently open to be checked out by virtually anyone. And turning over an archives or even the records management function to a housekeeping organization like the Department of Management Services is scary. Their focus is almost assured to be far more on the dustbin, than on history. Granted, both the state library and the archives have many materials that do not circulate & would not circulate no matter who their custodian is... but putting them at FSU would be pretty much like redesigning the human body and putting the brain in the left thumb: not impossible to do, just really, really not appropriate.. The same goes for putting museum programs into the Department of Environmental Protection. Their focus is upon the environment and stewardship of land, not cultural artifacts. Yes, the parks do include related programs but the cluster of historical programs under the office of the secretary of state were put together because they have synergistic relationships to each other and central integrating functions. Putting this kind of nexus of programs together is part of a general pattern of organization in state governments because good reasons for doing so have general recognition. Supposedly the dispersion of these programs is about saving money; but that makes no sense. Saying that it is about money must be a pretense. Either our historical and cultural programs are going to continue, in which SOME INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT are going to have continue to pay the cost, or they're going to be tossed on a scrap pile. Both the universities and the state government are drawing funds from approximately the same sources, but the sources as related to the purposes of these programs make much more sense together and in the domain of general government than scattered across academia and submerged into other tangentially related programs. There are no significant staffing or facility efficiencies that can be obtained by breaking these programs up. The only assured result of a break-up is diminution of the functioning of the programs, even if their staffing isn't reduced... and sure enough that is proposed too. The Department of State is a tiny portion of state government. The only way that any substantial amount of money from any source could be saved by altering the organizational basis of the programs now part of it, is, essentially by wiping them out, either altogether or pretty close to it. The next step after dispersing these cultural and historical programs, would be to whittle further away at them through time... and this would almost automatically ensue, because in each case they are proposed to be put out on the periphery of the mission and programs of their proposed new institutional "home away from home", and money is tight everywhere. The thing that is the most scary about this proposal, is that it appears to be indicative on the governor's part, not just of an indifference... but of an active animosity, hatred or loathing against knowledgable institutions in state government and preservation of and access to information about our state's history. From where I stand it appears that the man who is supposed to be governing the state has taken a notion to overthrow it and if not absolutely destroy, at least dissolve, scatter, dissipate to the winds, and greatly diminish the fundamental ability of both our people and our government to learn of our own past. Richard White South Gadsden Street Tallahassee, FL