Thoughts on the Elimination of the Indiana State Library #Genealogy Department

Indiana_State_Library-Seal250pw

I posted a blog about the elimination of the genealogy department at the Indiana state archives earlier, but didn’t comment much on it. In reading further, it looks to me like the money is available to save the library budget – it’s just going to be used for other stuff – like 55 million bucks being planned to celebrate the state’s upcoming bicentennial. We all like celebrations, but spending 55 million for a celebration that will come and go – while destroying essential services at the State Library seems a bit misguided. I’m sure Indiana governor Mike Pence didn’t mean to mess with the states’ heritage, but that certainly is what his budget plan does. I’m guessing that the governor isn’t a genealogist.

I understand that the library’s budget funding has been reduced consistently for the last decade, but this reduction by 24% in the upcoming budget is beyond the pale. Now – back to the upcoming bicentennial celebration – Indiana is planning to lease underused cell phone phone towers to pay for the celebration. According to an online article in the January 14, 2014 Indianapolis Business Journal, the $55 million will be used to fund the following bicentennial-related expenses:

  • A new Indiana state archives building ($25 million).
  • A Bicentennial Inn at Potato Creek State Park ($25 million)
  • An education center at the Indiana State Library ($2.5 million)
  • A commemorative Bicentennial Plaza in Indianapolis ($2 million)
  • A Bicentennial torch relay initiative ($1.6 million).

If that’s true, then somebody should get their priorities straight. Many, if not most, of Indiana’s historical documents are currently housed in an “dilapidated building” in Indianapolis. A new State Archives would be a lasting legacy that protects the past (like those irreplaceable documents!) But the other stuff…? I’m sorry, but my first thought is, who’s getting paid? Or, who’s gonna’ get paid? My daddy taught me to “follow the money.” Ya’ got to wonder…

Keep in mind that 49% of the reference questions to the Indiana State Library are for research from the Genealogy collection. The collection cannot be eliminated.

Click on the above links and see the AP article in the January 31, 2014 edition of newsandtribune.com.

About Leland Meitzler

Leland K. Meitzler founded Heritage Quest in 1985, and has worked as Managing Editor of both Heritage Quest Magazine and The Genealogical Helper. He currently operates Family Roots Publishing Company (www.FamilyRootsPublishing.com), writes daily at GenealogyBlog.com, writes the weekly Genealogy Newsline, conducts the annual Salt Lake Christmas Tour to the Family History Library, and speaks nationally, having given over 2000 lectures since 1983.

One Reply to “Thoughts on the Elimination of the Indiana State Library #Genealogy Department”

  1. That’s what happened where I used to work. Constant nibbling away at the budget, staff reductions, etc., and the public gets less service or no service. Of course there had to be more high level administrators hired to handle the layoffs. It just never ends.

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