The Edgefield County Council is considering the withdrawal of all, or part of the $17,500 annual budget item for the operation of the Tompkins Library in Edgefield.

Such action may well cause the Tompkins Library to close.

This can not be allowed to happen.

Please send letters of support and protest to the staff of the Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society, in care of Tonya Browder at OEDGS@spiritcom.net, immediately as they must be there by April 1, 2009.

Below is the letter received from the OEDGS in this regard.

This is a very important matter to anyone who needs or does genealogical research in this county and the surrounding areas.

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Dear OEDGS Member,

The Tompkins Library is dire need of your assistance. Because of recent and impending budget cuts in the state of South Carolina, the Edgefield County Council is contemplating cutting the Tompkins Library, which houses the Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society and the Old Edgefield District African American Genealogical Society, out of its budget.

This will be devastating for the Library as the monies received from the County ($17,500) is used for operational expenses.

What we need from you are letters of support to show the County Council that we are of historical importance and economic significance to Edgefield County.

For those of you who have visited Edgefield County in the past, please include in your letter the fact that you stayed in our hotel, ate in our restaurants, bought gas at our stations and visited other merchants and historical sites in the county.

Please send your letters via e-mail to:
OEDGS@spiritcom.net

or mail them to:

Tompkins Library
104 Courthouse Square
Edgefield, SC 29824.

We need these letters of support before April 1st to prepare for the next Edgefield County Council budget hearing.

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance with this matter of great importance. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail.
Sincerely,
Tonya A. Browder,
Tompkins Library Director

The county has cut the funding for the Edgefield Welcome Center/Tompkins Library which house the Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society, Old Edgefield District African American Society, and the collection from the South Carolina Genealogical Society from $17,500 to $7000. This is a very serious cut to the library which already operates on a shoe string budget. The final reading and vote on the budget is set for June 2. We pray that the funds can be reinstated and no further cuts are made