Hi Sandra,
Thank you. Yes, I have written to the Governor via e-mail already this
afternon. And I know that some other people I know have as well.
Hopefully that will help and perhaps the more people who write will help
to emphasise the necessity of helping the library.
Thank you.
Beth
[log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandra Treadway" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 5:08 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]
>
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>
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