More Cuts at the Ohio Historical Society

The Columbus Dispatch today has a story (front page of the local section, above the fold) about yet more cuts at the Ohio Historical Society

“The latest round of budget reductions ordered by Gov. Ted Strickland to make up a $1.2 billion state budget shortfall resulted in the loss of $1.2 million for the society. In the past seven years, the agency has lost 40 percent of its state funding. [the emphasis is mine — ajc]

“In response, the society announced yesterday that from March 28 to April 3 next year it will close all its sites and furlough employees.”

Don’t misunderstand — I’m not upset with OHS. They can only work with what they’ve got. The whole situation is a pathetic, sickening state of affairs. Artifacts and records are deteriorating. They’re down to 1/2 of 1 full-time equivalent to keep track of incoming records. Bill Laidlaw, OHS executive director and chief executive officer, estimates that they’ve lost “about a decade’s worth of agency records.” (Keep in mind that OHS serves at the State Archives for Ohio.)

You can read the entire article at:

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/30/HISTORICAL_CUTS.ART_ART_10-30-08_B1_HEBO9BB.html?sid=101

If that link doesn’t work, try http://tinyurl.com/5zsw37

Posted: October 30, 2008.

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