The following is for your information. -----Original Message----- From: Ray Boomhower <rboomhower@statelib.lib.in.us> To: H-INDIANA@H-NET.MSU.EDU <H-INDIANA@H-NET.MSU.EDU> Date: Thursday, June 25, 1998 2:04 PM Subject: Dept. of Indiana Heritage? >From: Noraleen A. Young <nyoung@tcon.net> >Date sent: Thur, 25 June 1998 >Subject: Dept. of Indiana Heritage? > >The Indiana General Assembly has established the Interim Study Committee on >State Government Issues to look at three issues: 1) Access to public >records; 2) petitions to change a town to a city; 3) Creation of a >Department of Indiana Heritage. > >The first hearing was held on Tuesday, June 23, 1998. The primary topic was >on access to public records and testimony was heard from state officials, >the media, and the public on the difficulty many have in accessing public >records. Work groups will be established with both state officials, >legislators and representatives of the pubic to look at compliance, >mechanics, definitional concerns, and copying fees. > >The next hearing, tentatively scheduled for July 28, 1998, 1:30 p.m., will >continue to look at public records access but also at the feasibility of a >Department of Indiana Heritage to put all those Indiana State agencies that >deal with the history of Indiana under a joint agency similar to >organizational structures found in other states. > >Agencies mentioned in a position paper dated October 29, 1997 include the >Division of State Museum and Historic Sites (presently under the Dept. of >Natural Resources), the Indiana State Library, the Indiana War Memorials >Commission, the Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology, the >Indiana Main Street/Heritage Tourism Program, the Indiana Historical >Bureau, and the Indiana State Archives (Commission on Public Records). > >If you are interested in commenting on either issue you can reach the >committee by: > > Interim Study Committee on State Government Issues > c/o Legislative Services Agency > 200 West Washington Street > Suite 301 > Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2789 > > (317) 232-9588 > fax (317) 232-2554 > >You may also gain information on the committee by calling John Rowings, >with the Legislative Services Agency at (317) 232-9555. You may request >that you be placed on the committee's mailing list for meeting notices. > >You can read about the committee's June 23 meeting, or follow its progress, >or that of the governor's task force on public records by checking the Indy >chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists at their web site: >http://indyprospj.iupui.edu/indypro/home.html > > >Noraleen A. Young C.A. >Public Historian >nyoung@tcon.net >http://mem.tcon.net/users/5010/5955/noraleen.htm >