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Help Save Clayton Genealogical Library
- Subject: Help Save Clayton Genealogical Library
- From: "Kelly, Shelly H" <Kellysh@CL.UH.EDU>
- Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 08:57:14 -0500
- Comments: To: Brenda Gunn <bgunn@mail.utexas.edu>, Cindy Smolovik-work <cindy.smolovik@nara.gov>, Diane Donohoe <sddd@flash.net>, Ed Cotham <Cotham1025@aol.com>, Gerrianne Schaad <GSchaad@utsa.edu>, Johnnye Carlson <JohnnyeCarlson@aol.com>, Kris Toma <kristoma@hotmail.com>, Marilyn Henley <marilyn@ahenley.com>, Wayne Garland <wgarland@carol.net>, "Zevabed (Anna)" <zevabed@hotmail.com>, George Gause <ggause@panam.edu>, Gerald Saxon <saxon@uta.edu>, Jo Ann Stiles <stilesjk@HAL.lamar.edu>, "Karen Riles (TOHA)" <karen.riles@ci.austin.tx.us>, Kenneth E Hendrickson <fhendrkk@nexus.mwsu.edu>, Lois Myers <Lois_Myers@baylor.edu>, Suzanne Campbell <suzanne.campbell@angelo.edu>, Tai Kreidler <litdk@lib.ttu.edu>
- Reply-to: "Kelly, Shelly H" <Kellysh@CL.UH.EDU>
- Sender: Archives & Archivists <ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU>
> Please forward this e-mail to every genealogy and
> historical researcher you know and ask for his or
> her immediate support and help with this issue. Send
> it to family members. Send it to members of your
> genealogy or historical society members.
>
> Permission to reprint this article is given without
> any reservations.
>
> = = = = = = = = IMMEDIATE RELEASE= = = = = = = =
>
> Help Save Clayton Genealogy Library
>
> By Lynna Kay Shuffield
>
> Houston, Tex., May 14 - One of the top 10-genealogy
> libraries in the United States, the Clayton Library
> Center for Genealogical Research (known as the
> Clayton Library) of the Houston Public Library (HPL)
> is in danger and will suffer drastic cutbacks in
> operating hours beginning July 1, 2002 when the
> library will only be open for research for 3-hours,
> 1-night per week versus the current 4-hours, 3-
> nights per week.
>
> This will result in the loss of almost 475 evening
> research hours per year for the public and library
> patrons. For many researchers, genealogy is a hobby
> and most work a full-time job (40-hour per week from
> 8am-5pm).
>
> Clayton Library patrons who use the library during
> the evening hours will go from 625-hours of
> available research hours per year (5pm-9pm, 4-hours,
> 3-nights per week) to a gross of 155-hours per year
> (5pm-8pm, 3-hours, 1-night per week).
>
> Please keep in mind when you get off from work at
> 5pm, in Houston rush-hour traffic and road
> construction, you generally can't make it to Clayton
> Library before 6pm. So, using the formula of
> arriving after work at 6pm, patrons will
> realistically only have 2-hours (6pm-8pm), 1-day per
> week for a total of 104-hours (2x52) of evening
> research time per year.
>
> You must also reduce 104-hours even more because
> most Clayton Library services, e.g., photocopiers,
> microprinters, restrooms, etc. end 15-mintues before
> closing thus reducing another 13-hours per year
> (15x52÷60) from evening research time. Resulting in
> the net number of evening hours available to
> researchers at Clayton Library to 91-hours per year.
>
> Many people say reduction in hours this is a Houston
> or regional issue. Not so! Clayton Library serves
> approximately 72,000 individuals every year from all
> over the United States who travel to this specific
> library to conduct research. Also, it is critical to
> remember, Clayton Library is a non-circulating
> collection and no books or microfilm can be check-
> out and used at home.
>
> Additionally, Library Administrators and City
> Officials have failed to consider impact to Clayton
> Library's nationwide stature and standing by this
> drastic reduction in research hours.
>
> Not only is the reduction in hours going to affect
> researchers, it is also going to have an economic
> impact on the City of Houston.
>
> According to the "Historic Preservation at Work for
> the Texas Economy," individuals who visit your
> community for genealogy or historic purposes, spend
> an additional $29 per day, over and above what they
> would normally spend just visiting for personal or
> business reasons, and, in addition, they stay longer
> than non-heritage travelers.
>
> Reducing Clayton Library hours might solve the
> library's budget shortfalls, but it is going to
> cause an even greater impact to Houston's public
> image and economy.
>
> Why the reduction in library hours at Clayton
> Library? In Staff Town Hall Meetings conducted today
> by the HPL, the reason for the cutbacks is
> because "there is major budget crisis." The 18-page
> handout given out at the meeting suggests staff
> members are not to take complaints from patrons
> regarding cutbacks of library hours or services.
> Staff members are to direct patrons to contact
> members of Houston City Council or their
> neighborhood civic club or association so they
> can "express positive support for restoring the
> library's budget so hours and services can be
> restored."
>
> Why the drastic reduction in Clayton Library hours?
> The Library Administration claims it is due to the
> surge of Internet genealogical research and
> therefore there is no longer a need for hands-on
> original research. This is a diminutive argument in
> that good genealogy researchers realize that relying
> solely on Internet research is not "good research"
> and you only have access to the vast majority to
> books and records at a library.
>
> It is important to note that Clayton Genealogy
> Library will be experiencing the most drastic and
> severe cutbacks of any branch of the Houston Public
> Library System. Most local branch libraries will
> only see an average reduction of 2-hours per week or
> a loss of 105 hours per year and the Downtown Main
> Library will only loose 3-hours per week or a total
> of 156 hours per year whereas Clayton Library will
> see a reduction of almost 475-hours per year.
>
> What can you do to help? Write, call or e-mail all
> of the following and voice your "positive support"
> to stop the reduction of Clayton Library hours and
> keeping it open three-nights per week.
>
> -- please offset following in box --
>
> Website for Clayton Genealogy Library
> < http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/clayton/ >
>
> Website for Clayton Library Friends (a tax-exempt,
> IRS 501(3)(c) non-profit organization that supports
> the library)
> < http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/clayton/clf.html >
>
> Barbara Gubbin, Executive Director, Houston Public
> Library System, 500 McKinney, 4th Floor, Houston,
> Texas 77002, telephone: 832/393-1325 or e-mail
> < barbara.gubbin@cityofhouston.net >.
>
> Editor, Houston Chronicle newspaper: Viewpoints,
> Houston Chronicle, P. O. Box 4260, Houston, Texas
> 77210 or e-mail < viewpoints@chron.com >.
>
> City of Houston Elected Officials webpage at
> < http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/citygovt/council/ >
>
> The mailing address for all the below listed City of
> Houston Elected Officials: P. O. Box 1562, Houston,
> Texas 77251:
>
> Lee P. Brown, Mayor of the City of Houston, in
> Houston telephone 311 or e-mail
> < mayor@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Annise Parker, City Council At Large Position 1, e-
> mail
> < atlarge1@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Gordon Quan, City Council At Large Position 2, e-
> mail
> < atlarge2@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Shelly Sekula Rodriguez, M.D., City Council At Large
> Position 3, e-mail
> < atlarge3@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Michael Berry, City Council At Large Position 4, e-
> mail
> < atlarge4@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Carroll G. Robinson, City Council At Large Position
> 5, e-mail
> < atlarge5@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Bruce Tatro, City Council Dist. A, e-mail
> < bruce.tatro@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Carol Mims Galloway, City Council Dist. B, e-mail
> < districtb@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Mark Goldberg, City Council Dist. C, e-mail
> < districtc@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Ada Edwards, City Council Dist. D, e-mail
> < districtd@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Addie Wiseman, City Council Dist. E, e-mail
> < districte@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Mark Ellis, City Council Dist. F, e-mail
> < districtf@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Bert Keller, City Council Dist. G, e-mail
> < districtg@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Gabriel Vasquez, Ph.D., City Council Dist. H, e-mail
> < districth@cityofhouston.net >
>
> Carol Alvarado, City Council Dist. I, e-mail
> < districti@cityofhouston.net >
>
>
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> Lynna Kay Shuffield
> P. O. Box 16604
> Houston, Texas 77222
> telephone: 713/692-4511
> e-mail: friday@argohouston.com
>
>
>
>
>
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