City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2010 06 08

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COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: MALCOLM FLEMING, CITY MANAGER DATE: JUNE 8, 2010 SUBJECT: UPDATE/DISCUSSION - LOUISVILLE HISTORICAL COMMISSION ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: LIBRARY AND MUSEUM SERVICES, ON BEHALF OF THE LOUISVILLE HISTORICAL COMMISSION SUMMARY: The Historical Commission comes before Council to present its accomplishments for the past year and goals for the short-term future. Presenter Dan Mellish, Chair of the Historical Commission, also asks Council to begin to envision what the long-term future of the Louisville Historical Museum should be. Over two thousand visitors explored the Louisville Historical Museum in 2009 in the 770 hours it was open to the public. With the budget cuts made at the end of last year, we expect the number of on-site visitors to decline in 2010, since the number of hours open will fall to 320. Despite more limited access and cuts to staff hours, the number of email and phone inquiries received by the Museum Coordinator has increased in 2010. Louisville sits at a happy confluence of factors: it is a town with many historic buildings, artifacts, and a rich history, and has residents who value its heritage. The City’s marketing materials mention our historic downtown, and our several “Best Places” awards also make mention of the City’s historic character. The buildings in the Historical Museum’s campus have had recent facility improvements, including new paint and an anticipated new sign and fire detection system for the Jacoe Store. The Museum houses an extensive collection of photos, business records, artifacts, and oral histories. Unfortunately, this treasure trove of City history is only marginally accessible to the public. The Jordinelli house is currently used to store parts of the collection that cannot be put on display, due to space limitations. Historic photos such as that of the 1924 Louisville Grade School’s first-grade class, shown on the next page, tell the story of the city and its residents. They exist only as snapshots, without digitized versions that can be searched and viewed online by researchers and residents—as well as serving as a secure record, should the originals be damaged or destroyed. SUBJECT AGENDA ITEM III UPDATE/DISCUSSION - LOUISVILLE HISTORICAL COMMISSION