I got this message from a library board member and it is very important to anyone who researches in the Jefferson Parish Library system. It can also affect the quality of the other libraries, accessibility, etc. Please do what you can to stop this proposed stupidity. Thanks to all Rita Tonglet, President West Bank Genealogy Society To all members of the Westbank Genealogy Society and those who conduct genealogy research in the Jane Chatelain/Westbank Regional Library: As we have discussed at meetings, a public hearing has finally been set to accept public imput on the proposed plan to re-configure the interior of this library. As I point out in the statement below, the book collection will be greatly reduced, particularly the areas most used for serious research. Please spread the word about the public hearing and ask those who cannot attend, to at least contact the Director & ask that your comments be added to those to be gathered at the hearing. It would also be a good idea to contact the Director's boss, Parish President Aaron Broussard, as well as your Councilman. Time is short to get the word out. Thanks, Judy Mills PUBLIC HEARING ON REGIONAL LIBRARY By Judy Mills Tuesday, April 1, has been set for a public hearing to accept comments on plans for the interior of the Jane Chatelain/Westbank Regional Library in Harvey . The meeting will be held in the Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd , beginning at 7 pm . The public is invited to view the proposed plan, hear a small presentation and make comments to be recorded and reviewed by the Jefferson Parish Library Board and Library Director. As a member of the Board representing the First Council District in which the Regional is located, I have reviewed the plan with great concern for its future as a place for research and education. There will be a severe reduction of adult books, even after the two-year weeding program which resulted in discard of approximately one third of books in the overall library collection, including that of this Regional. Of particular concern to me, and I believe to everyone who conducts research as a student, a genealogist, a local historian, or for pleasure, is the reduction in non-fiction and reference books; as well as Special Collections. To demonstrate, the following are actual numbers from the Jefferson Parish Library Department. A report on System Holdings dated January 10, 2008 shows that there are 79,343 adult books in Westbank Regional. Of that total 48,201 are adult non-fiction. In the proposed floor plan circulated to the Library Board at its meeting March 18, there will be a total of 26,600 adult books. Of that only 5,600 will be non-fiction. This is a planned two-thirds cut in adult books. Notice also, that contrary to accepted library practices, fiction books will outnumber non-fiction. This assumes that Westbankers do not need or desire serious materials. In Special Collections, Genealogy will be cut by three fourths. The current holdings are 4,380 books. The planned total after the re-configuration of the Regional will only be 1, 134. The Reference Department will be cut from 6,624 volumes to 4,800. (The Board was not given proposed numbers on the Louisiana Collection). These three areas: Non-Fiction, Special Collections & Reference are the heart of a library; and their attention or inattention, is indicative of the attitude of its caretakers. By de-emphasizing these sections, the focus and mission of this library will change from primarily educational to providing a media center or arcade. Serious researchers will find it more frequently necessary to request materials from the Eastbank Regional and/or other libraries whether in our own system or from others in the State or the Country. This delays access to study materials and costs more in hidden areas of the Librarys budget for handling such requests and transporting materials around the system. What, you may ask is to take the place of books? Answer: over 100 computers and a beefed up media area. No one will argue against providing such amenities, but must it be at the complete decimination of the book collection? It will be up to the public who attends the Public Hearing April 1 to decide what it wants from its library and let this be known. If you are unable to attend, write your comments to the Library Director with a request to have them included with those of the public hearing. You can write Lon Dickerson, Director, at Library Headquarters, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave , Metairie , 7001; and/or e-mail him at Ldickerson@jefferso nllib.la. us/ --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.