Bollinger archive users depend on loyal volunteers

An open letter to the Bollinger County commissioners: I was recently informed of the situation with the Bollinger County Archives, and, gentlemen, I was appalled.

My husband and I have been patrons of the Bollinger County Archives for many years.

We try to make at least two trips to Southeast Missouri to do research in this facility.

While we are there we buy copies and books, make donations, buy gasoline, stay in motels, buy food and put into the local economy as much as $1,500 each trip.

We meet another couple there, and they spend likewise.

We have visited other archives in Cape Girardeau and Bloomfield, Mo., and although these offices have much more funding than the Bollinger County Archives, they don't even come close to the excellence in Marble Hill, Mo.

This excellence is due to one thing: the love of the job and the dedication and hard work of the volunteer staff.

I know what it takes to be a volunteer in an archive. I spent more than 15 years volunteering in county archives in Tennessee.

I have worked with the Tennessee State Library and Archives in the preservation of records in five counties in middle Tennessee.

I spent one day each week volunteering in a different county.

The people who have dedicated themselves to the preservation of your county's history should be applauded and rewarded, not tossed to the curb like trash.

You stated in your interview with the newspapers that you just wanted to keep the archives open five days a week.

I believe that is bull.

When the weather is cold, wet, snowy or stormy, people are not going to get out and tramp around in the weather to come to the archives. Anyone with any sense should know that. Therefore, I don't see the problem with curtailing the hours of operation.

You also stated that the phone was ringing all the time. Could you please explain to me how you know that? I am not aware of your office being located anywhere near enough to the archives to hear the phone, nor do I believe that the people who are calling have called you to say that no one answered.

Is your information coming from the Extension Office employees? If so that make me wonder about their motives, since they are the ones who will be receiving a windfall.

Now let's look at the proposal of having the Extension Office employees oversee the archives.

I would like to know their qualifications for this position. What training or experience have they had? Have they worked years as volunteers in the archives and learned the hard way? Do they have law degrees, or have they worked with the court system? Have they attended seminars held by the Missouri State Archives on the preservation of records? If I were to contact them and request that they locate a probate file or an ex parte petition, would they have any idea what I am talking about? If I want to order a book that has been published by the archives, will they be able to fulfill my request? Do they have any idea what records are for public use and which are not?

To sum up, gentlemen, I am heartbroken that you have so little regard for people who have worked as hard as these volunteers to benefit your community.

It is a sad day when hard work and dedication are rewarded by such as you have bestowed on these worthwhile citizens.

Shirley Cato resides in Tullahoma, Tenn.