Ms. Kelldorf's argument is right on the mark.  What other institution
brings large numbers of people, particularly in the summer, into
downtown Richmond, to study, to eat, and perhaps to stay over
and shop?  As much affection as I have for the old building, the
new building fronting right on Broad Street, radiates 21st century
energy in the heart of a beautiful city's sadly neglected core.



Date sent:              Fri, 04 May 2001 19:47:54 -0500
From:                   Loretta Kelldorf <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Re: LVA money problems.
To:                     [log in to unmask]
Send reply to:          Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
        <[log in to unmask]>

> Is it possible to enlist the assistance of your local tiers of government,
> the Chamber of Commerce and whatever local Economic Development Council
> you may have to reinforce your pleas for more funding?   Large libraries
> should be viewed as an "industry" that  attracts people spending money to
> an area. These "users" impact many service industries in a community as
> they use transportation,  hotel and food  services among others.   The
> number of visitors to the library spending dollars, not only in the
> library but in the community as well,  must have a significant impact  on
> the economics of a community as each dollar spent has a multiplier effect
> in the community.
>
> It is unfortunate that many politicians and public servants in government
> view large libraries as "end users" of the tax dollar when in reality they
> are agents multiplying tax dollars in the community.  I suspect  that when
> library  administrators learn to use this argument and back it up with
> figures,  they will have a more generous audience in the  budget
> committee. Public libraries should have vigorous marketing of their
> services   just as other industries do.
>
> I hope this idea will grow and be fruitful.
> Loretta
> In Texas
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sandra Treadway" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 4:08 PM
> Subject: Re: LVA money problems.
>
>
> >    Dear Beth (and interested listserve subscribers),
> >
> >       Thank you for your message and for your words of support for the
> > Library's current fiscal situation.  As you know, the Virginia
> Genealogical
> > Society has also been very supportive of the Library's needs,
> > particularly during the past several years, and we very much appreciate
> > their continued efforts on our behalf.  I know the VGS membership is as
> > concerned as you
> are
> > over the steps we may have to take if our fiscal dilemma does not
> > improve.
> >
> >        Please know that, while no final decisions about Saturday
> >        closings
> > have yet been made, the Library is facing an extremely tight period
> > ahead
> if
> > the General Assembly does not alter the present budget situation in the
> next
> > week or so.  We have several vacancies at the moment in our public
> > service staff and are expecting several others during the summer, which
> > is our busiest period.  If things do not change, we simply will not have
> sufficient
> > trained archivists, librarians, and other professionals needed to keep
> > our reading rooms open six days a week.  The Code of Virginia requires
> > that
> the
> > Library, as the research and reference library in the state capital, be
> open
> > during the regular business hours set for state government agencies,
> > which are Monday through Friday.  Thus, if we have a staffing shortage
> > that
> would
> > force a reduction in hours, we would have no choice but to close on
> Saturday
> > rather than on a weekday.
> >
> >        Please know, too, that we are all very aware of the serious
> > difficulty this would cause for people who conduct research on Virginia
> > history and genealogy, many of whom can only visit the Library on the
> > weekend.  If we should have to take this step, it would not be a
> > decision reached lightly and it would cause us tremendous anguish as
> > well.  We have come so far in the past several years since our move to
> > the new Library building and this set back would be a blow we would feel
> > acutely.  I am
> not
> > certain that there is much that can be done at this point, but the
> > suggestions found on the VGS website offer the best place to start.  We
> have
> > provided state authorities with statistics on the number of patrons
> > served by the Library's staff on a typical Saturday, but letters to the
> Governor's
> > Office or the General Assembly from concerned constituents mean much
> > more than cold numbers.
> >
> >         We will certainly alert subscribers to Va-Hist and Va-Roots
> > immediately, as well as the public at large, should the Library have to
> > close on Saturdays.  This would not occur before July 1, but it could
> happen
> > at that time should the budget situation remain as it is today.
> >
> >         Please stay tuned!  And thanks again for your kind words.  It
> helps
> > us all to get through tough times to know that we have so many loyal
> friends
> > and supporters.
> >
> >           Sincerely,
> >
> >             Sandy Treadway
> >
> > ----------------------
> > Sandra Gioia Treadway        Phone:  804-692-3599
> > Deputy Director                   Fax:  804-692-3594
> > Library of Virginia                 E-mail: [log in to unmask] 800
> > East Broad Street         (Please note NEW e-mail address) Richmond, VA
> > 23219-8000
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Beth Bond [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 4:20 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: [VA-HIST] LVA money problems.
> >
> >
> > Hello everyone,
> >   I am very disturbed by what I just saw on the Virginia Genealogical
> > Society website. Their alert page at: http://www.vgs.org/alert.htm
> > refers to a possible closing of LVA on Saturdays.
> >
> >  Right now I can get there one day during the week and usually on
> Saturdays.
> > But during the summer with a job I have all summer, I can only get to
> > LVA
> on
> > Saturdays.
> >
> > I know that is true for alot of people all year long and particularly
> people
> > from out of town or out of state.
> >
> >  I also volunteer there one Saturday a month. I would be more than
> >  willing
> > to volunteer there two Saturdays a month if it would help.
> >
> >  Since they close early during the week at 5:00 and are open from 9:00
> >  to
> > 5:00 when most people are working, it is very difficult for alot of us
> > to get there during the week.
> >
> >  I know they are having budgetary problems but it is supposed to be a
> public
> > building for the public.
> >
> >  There must be a way we all can help somehow.
> >
> > Mr. Tarter, what do you think?
> >
> > Thank you.
> >      Beth
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the
> > instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
> >
> > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the
> > instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
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Harold S. Forsythe
Assistant Professor History
Director:  Black Studies
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06430-5195
(203) 254-4000  x2379

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