The board's activities during the reporting
period included three meetings and an open
house discussion, and the creation of a World
Wide Web home page.
At the December meeting, the board heard
from Deputy Coordinator George Parkinson on
the status of the Ohio Historical Society's
two grant applications. The NHRPC did not
fund the Archival Fellowship host institution
application, and awarded only $10,000 of the
$206,400 requested for "Establishing
the Ohio Electronic Records Archives"
project. The board also learned that the Cincinnati
Historical Society finished its NHPRC grant
to support a two-year processing project.
Also in December, The board discussed proposed
revisions to The Ohio 2003 Plan, as well as
plans for the creation of an OHRAB World Wide
Web home page (URL http//winslo.ohio.gov/ohswww/ohrab/index.html),
designed to increase awareness of the board,
its activities, and the NHPRC grant program.
In April, the board heard that the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission
(NHPRC) did not fund its regrant project "Homefront
And Battlefront: Ohioans Serve the Nation."
The board agreed to revise and submit the
proposal in October 1996. Of the three grants
reviewed in October 1995, NHPRC funded one,
partially funded one, and encouraged resubmission
of the third. The Toledo Museum of Art received
a grant of $54,392, and the Ohio Historical
Society proposal, "Establishing the Ohio
Electronic Records Archives" received
only $10,000 of the $206,400 originally requested.
The Cincinnati Art Museum grant was not funded.
Following up the discussion in December on
revisions to The Ohio 2003 Plan, the
board briefly considered the revisions to
the NHPRC strategic plan, upon which The Ohio
2003 Plan is modeled. Following the NHRPC's
intention to create a plan that is clearer,
more realistic, more focused on the commission's
priorities, and more reflective of the importance
of technology, the board decided that the
proposed revisions to The Ohio 2003 Plan
should accomplish these goals as well. The
revised Ohio 2003 Plan is to be printed
and distributed in January of 1997.
In its role as coordinating body for the
Ohio Network of American History Research
Centers, the board also considered the Ohio
Historical Society's proposal to create the
Ohio Local Government Information Locator
System, which will use modern technology to
improve upon Local Government Records Program.
Emphasis will be placed on creating online
resources and services that provide information
local government officials need and that streamline
procedures which are currently time-consuming
and paper-intensive. A Local Government Locator
System will be created, which will be a World
Wide Web home page that will identify, describe,
and provide assistance in obtaining local
government information. The home page will
include a schedule of workshops, and detailed
instructions on how to schedule, preserve,
and dispose of records. A functional records
manual will be created to replace manuals
currently in use with one that is more comprehensive,
yet also more flexible and easier to update.
In addition, the home page will include brief
county histories and a profile of each local
government office or unit. This Fact File
will provide context for the records, helping
users understand the structure of local governments,
their responsibilities, and the records they
produce. The Ohio Historical Society will
seek funding to support this effort.
In June, Mike Lucas informed the board about
the Government Information Locator Service
Initiative (GILS). This initiative, a joint
project with the Ohio Historical Society,
is a system designed to identify public information
resources of the U.S. Government, to describe
the information available in those resources,
and to provide assistance in obtaining the
information. Development of GILS will also
result in the formation of an information
policy for the state.
Deputy Coordinator Parkinson reported to
the board that funding included in the state
capital bill will provide The Ohio Historical
Society's Archives/Library with $1.5 million
to establish an electronic records program
and to support ongoing automation projects.
Furthermore, in conjunction with the Cincinnati
Historical Society and the Western Reserve
Historical Society, the Ohio Historical Society
released a request for proposal for an integrated
library and information system.
At the end of this period, the board has
spent $11,711.03 of a total grant award of
$18,524. During this reporting period, the
board expended $2,063.56 on travel and meetings,
and $190.53 on supplies and services. Remaining
funds will support the distribution and printing
of The Ohio 2003 Plan, as well as providing
for remaining meetings and services and supplies.
