John,

Thje reductions in operations proposed for the Library strike me as
intolerable. While it may be necessary to discontinue some effort and programs
initated in recent years or defer them until better times many of the propsed
reductions would seem to eliminate programs of a long standing value.  I and I
dare say many others would be willing to contribute towards such programs on
both a state and local basis in addition to pressing the legislature and
governor to do so as well.

Respy, Tom Kastner

John Kneebone wrote:

> Everyone,
>
> I appreciate Ray Bonis's kind words about Virginia Cavalcade and about the
> Digital Library Program at the Library of Virginia. Below is the text of the
> Library's statement of what the state of Virginia's budget cutting has cost
> us. One of the costs is, sadly, Virginia Cavalcade, which, as Ray observed,
> has been publishing lively and accurate articles about Virginia history and
> culture for more than 50 years.
>
> Having been involved in the deliberations of the Library's senior management
> about what to do in the face of inexorable demands for brute dollar amounts
> in cuts, I can assure you all that the decision making was extremely
> difficult and done with great seriousness and sorrow. The text below gives
> the results.
>
> But, there are still great people at the Library of Virginia, which remains
> a great institution. Your support as they prepare to carry on after this
> devastation is important.
>
> John
>
> Library of Virginia Service Reduction Summary
>
> 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 this week) has been a loss to the Library's operating
> budget of a staggering 39 percent.
>
> Among the painful outcomes of our current fiscal situation are 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
>
> Reduction of collection development budget (purchasing of books,
> manuscripts, journals, and databases) by 45 percent
>
> Reduction of hours of operation in the reading rooms by one day per week.
> The reading rooms will be open to researchers Tuesday through Saturdays
> (with limited staffing on Saturdays), but will be closed to researchers on
> Mondays.
>
> 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
>
> Elimination of the Imaging Services Program, which for decades has conducted
> all preservation microfilming for the Library, its patrons, and numerous
> local agencies
>
> Elimination of the Virginia Center for the Book Program
>
> Elimination of all state funding for the Infopowering the Commonwealth
> initiative, which provides citizens and libraries access to a wide array of
> key information databases
>
> Elimination of Educational Programs, including teacher workshops, tours for
> K through 12 students, and other activities that open the Library's
> resources to a younger audience
>
> Elimination of the Publications Division as a separate organizational unit,
> with key editorial functions and staff consolidated within another division
>
> Elimination of Virginia Cavalcade magazine, the Library's award-winning
> quarterly magazine published continuously since 1951
>
> Elimination of all planning for 2007 related projects
>
> Elimination of the Building and Construction Grants program and consulting
> services that have supported and assisted local libraries with planning and
> oversight of major construction initiatives
>
> Reduction by 22 percent of state funding for local libraries, which is
> administered through
> the Library of  Virginia's budget.  This will have a serious impact on the
> hours, book buying,
> and staffing of local libraries across the Commonwealth
>
> Significant reduction of the State Documents Depository Program, which
> provides citizens
> with access to state publications through local libraries
>
> Significant reduction in services to state agency libraries
>
> Significant slippage in archival processing targets addressing the
> collections backlog
>
> Significant delays in processing photo duplication orders and on-line
> research and reference requests for researchers
>
> The Library staff is committed to maintaining fundamental services to our
> many users.  This difficult budgetary situation unravels much of what has
> been accomplished during the last decade, and further reductions will erode
> the agency's ability to function effectively as the reference library at the
> seat of government, archival agency of the Commonwealth, and advocate for
> Virginia's library community.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ray Bonis [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, October 18, 2002 12:06 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: End of Virginia Cavalcade?
>
> I am sure most subscribers to the Virginia History (VA-HIS) Online
> Listserve would be sorry to hear that the Virginia Cavalcade -- the
> "illustrated magazine of Virginia history and culture" -- was to end its
> 51 year history of publication.  Unfortunately,
> that seems to be the case.  According to yesterday's Richmond
> Times-Dispatch, the
> magazine, published by the Library of Virginia,  is to be another
> casualty of state
> budget cuts.
>
> I hope those who are in charge of making decisions that affect the
> publication of the
> Virginia Cavalcade re-think this decision.  The magazine has been an
> excellent
> source for those interested in Virginia's history.  One look at the
> online index to the
> magazine would convince even the most skeptical person of that (one
> could easily argue that the magazine has only gotten better in the last
> 10 years).  For many
> Virginians (and those outside the state), the Virginia Cavalcade was
> their introduction to the history of the Commonwealth and to the
> resources of the Archives at the Library of Virginia
>
> This comes on top of other budget cuts at the Library of Virginia --
> including major
> staff cuts and the elimination of the Digital Library Program.   Will
> the numerous
> online databases of images, text, and indices to holdings at the Library
> of Virginia be
> the next resource cut?  What about the fate of the Virginia History
> Listserve?  Is History under attack in Virginia?
>
> Ray Bonis,
> Richmond, VA
>
> --
>
> ~~~
>
> Ray Bonis
> Assistant Archivist
> Special Collections and Archives
> James Branch Cabell Library
> 901 Park Ave. VCU Box 842033
> Richmond, VA 23284-2033
>
> (804) 828-1108
> [log in to unmask]
> www.library.vcu.edu/jbc/speccoll/speccoll.html
>
> ~~~~
>
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