LISNews: Librarian News

"Librarian of Virginia Nolan T. Yelich and the state library board were honored Monday for their efforts to get former Gov. Jim Gilmore's records placed in the state achives for use by historians and researchers."

"Yelich and the board received the Freedom of Information Award given by the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, a group founded in 1996 to promote public access to government."

"Gilmore and the state library reached a mediated agreement last November to have 236 additional boxes of records sent to the library, ending a six-month impasse." (from The Daily Press)

Kathleene passed along this email from Barratt Wilkins, former state librarian, on the Florida State Library mess.

"Everyone interested in the State Library issue ought
to read the Executive Office of the Governor's newsletter entitled IN THE NEWS, v. 5, Issue 10, March 7, 2003 in which a "State Library Clarification" is printed as a part of "Message from Governor Bush".

First the newsletter indicates that the "circulating collection" is not "permanent". Only the permanent collections of the State Library are remaining in the Gray Building. -- Read More

The Orlando Sentinel has some
interesting news on The Florida State Library.
They say officials admit that, if the move is
approved by state lawmakers, no one would have
access to most of the books and records for a year or
longer. And even then, only Broward County residents
could go to the Nova library and check them out.
Jeb had argued that giving away part of the State
Library to Nova Southeastern University would make
the books and other materials more accessible to
more people in heavily populated South Florida.
Others warn that under terms of the state's
contract, the university would legally own the books and
could throw them away by 2007 if they are not used
enough.

Kathleene sent over 2 stories on the Hands around state library protest down in Florida.

The St. Petersburg Times says Hundreds of protesters formed a human chain around the state library Tuesday to protest Gov. Jeb Bush\'s plan to fire 42 state library workers and transfer hundreds of thousands of books to the private Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

The crowd, which included librarians, historians and scholars, shouted down Florida\'s new secretary of state, Glenda Hood, when she tried to discuss the move.
There\'s a similar story at The Herald-Tribune, and Tallahassee.com.

Bob Cox shared Questions abound for State Library, a nice look at the situation.