Commentary: Budget Cuts at the Indiana State Library

A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about the construction of the present-day Indiana State Library building which was constructed by the William P. Jungclaus Co. In that post, I quoted a member of the state commission overseeing that project that referred to libraries as the “bulwarks of civilization.” This description rightfully applies to any library, whether in the smallest town in Indiana, to the grand Indiana State Library which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. Libraries provide free and open access to information no matter who you are or where you live. At the same time, libraries and archives, maintain documents and materials evidencing our shared history.

I've observed an increase in comments and criticism, especially on social media, that libraries are no longer needed, that they are not used frequently by the public, or generally they are a relic of a non-digital past. I think such comments are grounded at least in part in ignorance, and I suspect those taking such positions have not set foot in, or used, a library in a long time. Libraries have evolved beyond the traditional book lending only model. In addition to still providing access to knowledge and information from a variety of written and hard copy sources, access to online and digital resources is a standard feature, and many libraries also act as a hub for a variety of activities and community services and outreach.

This year brought news that the state of Indiana’s bulwark of civilization, the State Library, was subject to a 30% funding cut, which resulted in a dozen employees being laid off: ten from the State Library proper, and six from the Indiana Historical Bureau, a division of the library which manages Indiana’s popular historical marker program, publishes the Indiana History Blog, and produces a history podcast, among many other activities (check out the IHB page at this link). These layoffs appeared to be about 20% of the library’s total workforce and included many long-standing and skilled members of the library’s staff.

Over the past seven years of working on Class900Indy.com, I have spent many hours at the State Library working on various research projects and have spent even more time utilizing the library’s online collections. I cannot over emphasize how important these resources are for my own historical research, and for the work of other researchers and educators around the state and beyond. All of these historic collections are available to the public because of the work of the staff of the State Library. Additionally, maintaining collections of materials is an ongoing process for librarians and archivists and new materials are continually being processed for inclusion in the collections, while others are being digitized to provide online access. This work is extraordinarily important for the patrons of the State Library today, and in the future.

How these budget cuts and the loss of historical expertise and skill will impact the State Library’s day-to-day operations remains to be seen. I’m sure the employees of the library will continue to be the consummate professionals in working to maintain the state’s collections of historic materials, and providing access to the public, whether they are historians like me, or other citizens interested in exploring their history. I’m also hopeful that those employees who were laid off will find new institutions and opportunities where they may utilize their skills and expertise.

If you wish to support the State Library’s mission, and its role as the bulwark of our piece of civilization here in Indiana, I encourage you to visit the library in-person to explore the landmark building and of course, the collections it contains. Also, you may wish to contact your elected representatives and advocate for a restoration of funding during future legislative sessions. Lastly, visit the State Library’s website, including the dedicated Bicentennial Page, and share what you learn about the 200-year history of the library with your family and friends.