Press
Release from State Librarian Jacob Speer,
January 15, 2015
(Excerpt)
It is in the best
interest of the citizens of Indiana that the projected cuts in funding set
forth in the current budget proposal be reevaluated in consideration of the education
needs of every Hoosier. The proposed 24% cut in funding would jeopardize the
accessibility of information vital to millions of Indiana residents and could
result in reducing Indiana State Library staff by 10%. The following is a
concise list of evidence supporting the continuation of funding for various
services provided by the Indiana State Library. Your cooperation in supporting
the continuous funding of these programs in the 2015 legislative session would be
greatly appreciated.
Proposed Reduction in Funding
INSPIRE $1,340,783
Genealogy Department $400,000
Public Library Standards & Certification $150,000
Total: $1,890,783
Genealogy
The proposal to eliminate all
funding ($400,000) for the Genealogy department of the library will impact the
availability and use of a one-of-a-kind resource that includes many elements of
family history and Indiana history.
IC
4-23-7.1 Sec. 3. The state library shall maintain, develop, and service a
collection of books, periodicals, newspapers, maps, manuscripts, audiovisual
materials, and other library materials for the purpose of:
(1) meeting the informational, educational, and research needs of state government;
(2) preserving and making available for use, materials bearing on the history of the state;
(3) meeting the specialized library needs and interests of citizens of Indiana; and
(4) supplementing the reference and materials resources of the libraries of the state.
(1) meeting the informational, educational, and research needs of state government;
(2) preserving and making available for use, materials bearing on the history of the state;
(3) meeting the specialized library needs and interests of citizens of Indiana; and
(4) supplementing the reference and materials resources of the libraries of the state.
The Indiana State Library (ISL) is
home to one of the largest Genealogy collections in the Midwest. This
collection (over 100,000 items) is focused on Indiana, states from which
Indiana was settled as well as some foreign countries. The collection is rich
with unique family histories and genealogy materials that cannot be found in
other locations. In comparison, the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) only collects materials
on Indiana and the Old Northwest – genealogy research can never be restricted
to one state only. Family trees branch outside of a single state and
spread throughout the country and across oceans. Genealogy collections
(including ours) contain materials for neighboring states as well as items covering
the east and southern coasts (where most immigrants landed) and genealogical
resources for other countries (mainly in Europe where most immigrants came
from). These types of resources are not collected by IHS or the Indiana
State Archives or the Historical Bureau.
In addition, the ISL serves as the Genealogy destination for patrons that use the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library (IPL). In the past, IPL donated their collection to ISL because they were not going to actively collect for Genealogy and they wanted somewhere close by to send their patrons and know they would get service in this area. Over the years they have also donated funds so that ISL could purchase valuable Genealogy research materials to be kept in the collection and used by patrons statewide. It has been a beneficial partnership.
Staff members who work in genealogy are playing important roles in planning the library’s role in the State’s bicentennial commemoration including the State Visitor Center that will be installed on the library’s first floor adjacent to the genealogy department. 49% of all reference questions that come into the ISL are for research from these genealogy materials.
In addition, the ISL serves as the Genealogy destination for patrons that use the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library (IPL). In the past, IPL donated their collection to ISL because they were not going to actively collect for Genealogy and they wanted somewhere close by to send their patrons and know they would get service in this area. Over the years they have also donated funds so that ISL could purchase valuable Genealogy research materials to be kept in the collection and used by patrons statewide. It has been a beneficial partnership.
Staff members who work in genealogy are playing important roles in planning the library’s role in the State’s bicentennial commemoration including the State Visitor Center that will be installed on the library’s first floor adjacent to the genealogy department. 49% of all reference questions that come into the ISL are for research from these genealogy materials.
For such a small portion of our
overall budget, we provide exceptional research materials to the public
including students, genealogy librarians, historians, and legislators;
preserving Indiana history for generations to come.
