Georgia State Archives Limiting Access To The Public on November 1

There are a bunch of interesting stories (here, here, and here) running about the news that the State of Georgia is effectively closing its state archives to the public on November 1 due to budget issues.  Various stories indicate that the archives would be open to researchers on limited days and by appointment.  According to a story in the Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required), Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has said he’ll find a way to keep the archives open to the public, though the existing budget process may not forestall the November 1 staff reductions.

Let’s compare this situation to another story from last year about a state-funded enterprise.  The Georgia Go Fish Center was established in 2007 at a cost of $14 million.  That dollar amount is funded by a bond issue that has taxpayers on the hook for $1.6 million a year for the next six years.  So if I understand it, researchers would have limited access to Georgia State documents while visitors to the Go Fish Center can sit in a chair simulating a fight with a Marlin. 

I don’t know how bad finances are in Georgia.  I work in Illinois, which is a financial basket case when it comes to state debt and budgeting.  No one in Illinois is considering the state archives as a source of potential savings.  Georgia needs to work on its priorities.  [MG]