>An update on the Area Research Center (ARC) in Ashland > as well as a bit of an overview of the greater picture at the >Wisconsin Historical Society. > >The GOOD news: >Our Ashland ARC will remain, and I know that many of you have gotten e-mails >/ letters indicating this. > >The BAD news: >If the plan goes through the legislature, there will still be the >elimination of one position at the Ashland ARC > >The REALLY BAD news: >The program at the Ashland ARC will be under-going a re-organization -- no >one has been able to say what that means -- EXCEPT to speculate that it >will mean a reduction in the time that the ARC is open and accessible to the >public. > >Some of the special, genealogy services at the >Ashland ARC and other services: >-- research assistance, to patrons who come in person to use the records & >collections >-- research done for folks who request searchs done for them, they >contact ARC by phone, e-mail, letter >-- genealogy programs - meeting with local genealogical & historical >societies - to give an introduction to the ARC collections and tell which > records are most useful for genealogy >-- genealogy-on-the-internet workshop - brand new this year, is a workshop >at Northland College, in a computer lab >-- creating finding aids for collections (such as "mapping" the census >rolls) >-- create / maintain / update the website for the ARC > >You can still show support -- by contacting your Wisconsin >legislators! > IF YOU WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT-- YOU >NEED TO SEND AN E-MAIL TO YOUR SENATORS / REPRESENTATIVES -- by Monday >morning (yes, I know -- that's tomorrow!) at the latest. > >I did not get this information until Sunday, so I had no way to get this >news out to you. While you are reading the letter below, from Michael >Edmonds, keep in mind that the Ashland ARC is NOT in the Library & Archives >Division of the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) -- because of its >affiliation / connection to the Madeline Island Historical Museum, this ARC >is in the Historic Sites Division at WHS. So the elimination of the Program >Assistant position at the Ashland ARC is IN ADDITION to the cuts in >positions within Library & Archives that are in the letter below. > >If I've got your attention this far, please keep reading. I got the >following message in an e-mail with the permission to pass it on. If you can help, please use the hot link below to contact your own legislator or one of the committe heads. If you aren't from Wisconsin, but would like to try to help, please do still write to a legislator for the impact of this issue on researchers everywhere, or to Patricia Boge, President, Board of Curators, Wisconsin Historical Society p.boge@lacrosse.lib.wi.us Dr. George L. Vogt, Director, Wisconsin Historical Society glvogt@whs.wisc.edu Robert Thomasgard, Jr., Associate Director, Wisconsin Historical Society rbthomasgard@whs.wisc.edu Remember that the Wisconsin State Historical Society supports research on genealogy, effigy mounds, the Civil War, archaeological sites, Great Lakes shipping and shipwreaks, and numerous other topics you've always meant to learn more about. Thank you very much for your time, and your interest in the survival of the Historical Society, and of the Ashland ARC, Ashley > >************ >(dated 3-29-02) >This is Michael Edmonds, deputy director of the library/archives at the >Historical Society in Madison. You've probably heard how the proposed budget >repair bill decimates us (literally, in a way: ten positions would be >eliminated from our division). Here's something pragmatic you can do to >help. > >We've learned that on Monday or Tuesday some Senate Democrats may introduce >a provision that could cushion the Historical Society's blow somewhat. If >you and anyone you know who values this library would write the appropriate >senator over the weekend, it might just tip the scales. I've been told that >as few as three or four communications from constituents can have a powerful >effect at a critical moment, and this is one of those times. There's no hope >of our getting out from under the ax altogether, but prompt action could >possibly save a position or two, which would mean a great deal. > >You can find all senators email addresses at: >http://www.legis.state.wi.us/leginfo/senmail.html > >Over the weekend or first thing Monday morning, let your state senator know >what cutting the Society would mean to you and the people you serve, and >urge him or her to do whatever's possible to maintain programs in the >library and archives. Feel free to forward this note elsewhere, too, if you >know of other constituencies that might be able to lobby on our behalf >quickly. > >Again, thanks for all your expressions of concern over the last couple >weeks. They mean a lot in these dismal times. > >Michael Edmonds > >Deputy Director, >Library/Archives Division >Wisconsin Historical Society >tel: 608-264-6538 > >miedmonds@whs.wisc.edu > >********** >Below is a further explanation of what the budget cuts >will do to the Library & Archives Division of the State Historical Society. >*********** > > >THE FOLLOWING EXPLAINS SOME OF THE CUTS THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PLANS TO >MAKE: >Although many programs are being cut during this budget crisis, by far the >most serious damage is to the library-archives. We will be losing one >position in the archives, and nine from the library. Although the >library-archives accounts for approximately 25% of the tax dollars in the >Historical Society budget, we will be carrying roughly 45% of the Society's >budget cut. Without a doubt, these cuts will bring fundamental changes to >our program. Actions by the state senate early next week could soften the >blow. With this in mind, we would appreciate any letters of support. >Several useful talking points: > >1) the loss of a position in the archives will have a direct impact on what >we can collect and how well we can care for the heritage of Wisconsin. >2) the loss of positions related to government documents cataloging will >have a fundamental impact on the services we provide to libraries across the >state. Your gov docs librarians may be particularly concerned about the >possibility of our ending our status as a regional gov docs depository >3) the elimination of positions in periodicals will likely result in the >reduction of subscriptions >4) the loss of our North American History bibliographer position will have >an impact on the nature and extent of our library acquisitions program >5) the loss of positions in the microfilm lab will reduce our ability to >preserve fragile materials and make important collections more widely >accessible >6) the elimination of our interlibrary loan librarian position will probably >result in the transformation of that progam into a program living off of >revenue; we will raise the fees we charge to cover this service. > >I hope these talking points help. Please do not use them to defend any >particular function or position, but rather to inform any messages you send >regarding the impact these cuts will have on you, your patrons, and the >preservation of Wisconsin's heritage. Thanks for your help. > --