SIA Statement on the Terminations at the Indiana State Library

June 12, 2025

On Tuesday, June 10, the Indiana State Library (ISL) terminated sixteen people without notice. Several departments were affected, including, but not limited to, the Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Division, Rare Books and Manuscripts Division, and Genealogy Collection staff due to a 30% budget cut from the state. Our colleagues—archivists, librarians, historians, educators, and public servants—support research and learning across the state, providing valuable resources and services to Hoosiers. These extensive staff cuts will impact access to information and knowledge and, most directly, the lives of those individuals affected by these terminations.

The ISL terminations are only one example of state and federal budget cuts directly affecting the profession and follow trends happening across the United States at federal, state, and local levels. Public libraries are having to make tough decisions on staffing and services due to shrinking funds and increased observation or oversight of select collection materials. Archives and special collections are receiving pushback based on exhibit content and ensuring the complete historical narrative is documented and shared. Nonprofit organizations have had to pause on-going initiatives or layoff staff based on grant funding being withdrawn or cancelled. Leaders in the profession—such as the Archivist of the United States and Librarian of Congress—were terminated without recognition of their experience.

Our Core Values and Code of Ethics from the Society of American Archivists emphasize the importance of “[Expanding] access and usage… of archival records,” “[Developing]… professional standards that promote transparency and mitigate harm,” and “[Respecting] the diversity found in humanity and [advocating] for archival collections to reflect that rich complexity.” Our profession on a foundational level may focus on preservation of materials and documenting history and memory; however, authenticity, diversity, and social responsibility are equally important. Decisions made based solely on budget cuts, without transparency, and with little respect for the individual do not align with professional ethics and cause harm to individuals and the profession.

The Society of Indiana Archivists (SIA) stands with our colleagues who have been terminated due to state and federal budget cuts. As a smaller organization focused on providing educational and networking opportunities, SIA’s main method of advocacy is through the grassroots efforts of our membership while continuing to support professional development opportunities for all in the field. In this vein, the SIA Board voted to provide free memberships to professionals affected by such terminations and to provide reduced-or-free event registrations at our 2025-2026 events, such as the Fall Workshop, Pre-Annual Meeting Workshop, and Annual Meeting. The SIA Board hopes that this initiative will support these individuals in this time of transition.

The SIA Board is willing to listen to feedback and ideas from membership on the state of the profession and how SIA can better support our membership’s needs. Please feel free to reach out to SIA President Evan N. Miller or Board members with additional thoughts.