.>>."Told last week that the flap doesn't seem to be going away, Bush answered, "So, stop writing about it."<< My congressmen says everyone is just "posturing" about it. I don't call that "posturing". I call that statement unbelievable from the governor of a state. I have a few places to post this article. Thanks, Leslie. Sydney ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leslie Maddocks" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2003 4:02 PM Subject: [FLORIDA] Florida State Library > Below is a column that appeared in the Orlando Sentinel today. Please > pay attention to Bush's answer - and continue contacting your > representatives and senators. The library staff has already been > notified their jobs will cease as of July 1. There are many other > indications that Bush fully believes that this initiative will pass. > This must be stopped. In the future, trying to recreate what we now > have will cost much more than will be "saved" by this ill planned moved. > Many valuable assets will more than likely be lost to Florida > researchers. If the collection is given to a university or private > institution (which is a distinct possibility according to another news > article) I am sure they will require a written agreement that will > preclude these items being returned since this will also require a great > deal of money be invested to create a place to house the collection. > > > > Bush wants to close book on library flap > > > > By John Kennedy | Sentinel Staff Writer > > Posted February 2, 2003 > > > > > > Not long before it was revealed that Gov. Jeb Bush planned to close the > > Florida State Library, lay off the entire staff and move the collection > to > > Florida State University, the governor issued a proclamation declaring > > February as Florida Library Appreciation Month. > > Bush, who has said promotion of reading is a top priority of his second > > term, wants to shut down the state's main library and move almost 1 > million > > books and historical items, including 16th-century maps, early documents > on > > Walt Disney World and some of the oldest photos of Florida. > > > > The budget-cutting move has drawn fire, and even FSU said it doesn't > have > > space or money to house the items. > > > > Parts of FSU's own collection are in warehouses, and the university > > wouldn't get any more money or staff to deal with the new collections. > > > > Told last week that the flap doesn't seem to be going away, Bush > answered, > > "So, stop writing about it." > > > > The governor's proclamation praised the importance of libraries and said > > > the month is "to encourage recognition of all of our Florida libraries > that > > provide outstanding service to our communities." > > > > Good thing he didn't proclaim "Florida Library Year." > > > > > > > > >