Subject: Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 16:37:58 -0400 The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2002 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. ============================================================== - Virginia's Digital Library Program Curtailed Bad news. The very popular Library of Virginia's Digital Library Program is about to close or perhaps only be "suspended." This online collection has become what is probably the best resource on the web for researchers of Virginia ancestors. It has a wealth of digital images of pages from old family Bibles, confederate pension applications, land deeds, and many other genealogically important resources. However, the site is no longer funded. A statement on the Library of Virginia Web site says: The Library of Virginia-the Commonwealth of Virginia's official research library and archival repository serving government officials, state and local agencies, public libraries, college faculty, students, historians, and genealogists-has experienced several rounds of budget reductions during the past two years. The cumulative effect has been a 28 percent permanent reduction in the Library's overall general fund appropriation (22 percent of that occurring with the 7 and 15 percent reductions this fiscal year). The Library has had to absorb a disproportionate amount of these cuts internally rather than pass them on in full measure to localities and other state agencies that receive funding through the Library's budget. Thus, the net effect of the past two years (including the 15 percent reduction announced by Governor Warner on October 15, 2002) has been a loss to the Library's operating budget of a staggering 39 percent. The same page details a long list of planned cutbacks, including the layoff of 23 full-time staff (out of a maximum employment level of 216) and 17 part-time staff, with an additional 19 vacant positions that will not be filled-leaving a total staffing shortfall of 59 valued individuals. The Web page then lists: Elimination of the Digital Library Program, which has allowed the Library to make heavily-used collections available to researchers through the Library's Web site You can read the full statement at: http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whoweare/events/reducsummary.htm Note that the official statement on the Library of Virginia Web site says "Elimination of the Digital Library Program." However, an e-mail from an official at the Library offers a somewhat different statement, saying that the existing digital program will remain on line, but will not be updated. Without funds, no further historical records will be preserved through the Imaging Services Program. There seems to be little recourse to genealogists, other than to those who live and vote in Virginia. As long as the state residents and elected officials impose heavy financial constraints on state agencies, actions like this are inevitable. My thanks to Mary Taffet for alerting me to this bad news. To discuss this story further, please visit the newsletter message board at http://www.RootsForum.com and click on "Message Board." ======= You are hereby granted rights, unless otherwise specified, to re- distribute articles from this newsletter to other parties provided: 1. You do so strictly for non-commercial purposes 2. You may not republish any articles containing words attributed to another person or organization until you obtain permission from that person or organization. While you do have permission to republish words written by Richard W. Eastman, you do not have automatic authority to republish words written by others, even if their words appear in this newsletter. If you have questions or comments about the article in this newsletter, go to http://www.RootsForum.com and then click on "Message Board." Post your message there. You will receive then assistance from Dick Eastman or from a number of other people. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: This newsletter is sent to you free of charge. Please feel free to copy this subscription information and pass it on to anyone else who you think might be interested in obtaining a free subscription. To subscribe, unsubscribe or to change your e-mail address on a present subscription, go to: http://www.rootsforum.com