wfn.org | ABCUSA: Budget Cuts Force Historical Society Layoff

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 8/10/04)--Betsy Dunbar,
interim director of the American Baptist-Samuel Colgate Historical Library,
Rochester, N.Y., has announced that budget cuts have forced the American
Baptist Historical Society to lay off Nancy Blostein, assistant to the
library director in Rochester.	Blostein will complete her work at the end of
this month. 

"Nancy's management skills have been invaluable to ABHS during a period of
transition here at the library," Dunbar said. "Her knowledge of such a
diverse--and sometimes quirky--collection has helped hundreds of researchers.
We will miss her greatly."

Founded in 1853, the Historical Society holds the largest collection of
Baptist materials in the world. Its three major funding sources include fees
contributed by the major mission boards of American Baptist Churches USA to
provide archival management for their records, a portion of gifts to the
denomination's United Mission funding, and donations from churches and
individuals.

According to Dunbar, several factors have led to the budget shortfall
affecting the Historical Society.  With Educational Ministries' recent
closing, "the Historical Society gained many more records, but lost a steady
income source," and also experienced an increase in building overhead at the
denomination's Valley Forge, Pa., Mission Center, where the ABHS Archives
Center is located.  Additionally, the newly implemented Common Budget
Covenant decreases the portion of United Mission funds for the national
boards. 

"The major mission boards are not able to cover all the increased expenses
for preserving and maintaining the archives, as they also are dealing with an
increase in building costs and a decrease in United Mission income," noted
Dunbar. "The ABHS Board of Managers is in the process of implementing a
focused development program, but efforts this year cannot make up the
difference."  

Dunbar added that the ABHS Board of Managers and Executive Director Deborah
Van Broekhoven are considering consolidation of the two halves of the
Historical Society collections.  Having one location would streamline
operations and provide better access for researchers, many of whom must visit
both the Rochester library and the Valley Forge Archives Center.

The cut in staff will leave the Rochester site with one full-time staff
member. Those wishing to use the library are asked to call (585)473-1740 or
e-mail abhs@crcds.edu to schedule a research appointment. Beginning Sept. 1,
2004 the Library will be open for research from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday. 

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Library or supporting it should
contact Betsy Dunbar, American Baptist Historical Society, 1106 S. Goodman
St., Rochester, NY 14620-2523.

K/2004ABNS/04ABN93

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org