Author: Ushriya

Author: Ushriya

March 18, 2009

Dear Governor Kulongoski,

I am writing on behalf of the Northwest History Network concerning the closure and uncertain future of the Oregon Historical Society research library. For a quick synopsis of the situation, please see:  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Save-the-OHSRL-and-staff. As of this afternoon, 624 people had signed the resolution and commented on the library’s importance.

Are you aware that the Oregon Historical Society collections are held in the public trust? The Society’s recent actions threaten that trust. For that reason, and because the collections are vitally important for the study and dissemination of state and regional history, the Northwest History Network and the signers of these resolutions call on you to convene a task force to study the situation and propose a sustainable solution that maintains an accessible and intact research library. Such a solution must involve a public discussion with community stakeholders.

We have reason to believe that the Society no longer views the research library as its core mission, and we believe it might seek ways to part with it. However, the Society has indicated that it desires to keep all or part of the photograph and film collections, believing that these will generate revenue in use and permission fees.  It is vitally important that these collections remain intact and not separated from the personal and business records that accompany them. Since 1898, thousands of people have donated their photographs, business records, and manuscript materials. They did not do so with the understanding that the Society might later find portions of those donations dispensable.

Governor, we ask you to convene a task force of historians, archivists, and community leaders to find a sustainable future for these invaluable collections. Members of the Northwest History Network have begun research on successful models of research library administration in other states, and we would be happy to work with your task force in seeking a solution to this problem.

Thank you for your time,

Kathy Tucker

Director, Northwest History Network

http://www.northwesthistory.org/index.htm

Here are some photos from the rally to support the OHS library and the staff. It was a great afternoon! The speakers were fantastic and spoke very eloquently about the need to keep the library open and staffed. As a bonus, the sun shone on the event!









We sent this letter to George Vogt, the executive director of the Oregon Historical Society: 

March 12, 2009

Dr. Vogt,

Thank you for getting in touch and providing us with information on how the library will operate when it reopens.

The Northwest History Network remains very concerned about the long-term viability and accessibility of materials in the Oregon Historical Society library.

Your description of the library’s new operations makes no mention of maintaining full access to the manuscript and archival holdings, which are the heart of the institution. This access would include employment of a sufficient number of archivists and research librarians who possess the expertise to maintain the collection and serve the public. We hope that OHS is developing long-term plans for keeping these well-tended and accessible. We also encourage OHS to make an updated public statement about the current and future status of the library.

Since the library closed almost two weeks ago, we have heard from hundreds of students, historians, writers, OHS members, librarians, and architects, among others, whose work requires access to the collections, not just the reference materials. We encourage you to read these to see what users have to say about what the library and staff mean to them: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Save-the-OHSRL-and-staff. We also invite you to join us in the Park Block across from OHS from 4-5:30 tomorrow to listen to what historians, authors, and other stakeholders have to say about how the OHS collections and staff have supported their work.

We are also concerned about the fate of library’s staff. On a personal level, we have come to know many of them well over the years and are very sorry to see them laid off. On a professional level, we are concerned about the fate of the library’s collections. Without a staff intimate with the collections, how can they be maintained, shaped, and used for benefit of the Oregonians for whom the material is held in trust? When the staff goes, so does irreplaceable knowledge and skills. Furthermore, we believe the collections are at risk without the protection of trained professionals.

Given the economic crisis in Oregon, it is more important than ever that a solution for the library be found. The Northwest History Network hopes you will join us in calling on Governor Kulongoski to convene a task force to find a permanent and sustainable solution for the library.

Respectfully Yours,

The Northwest History Network