David Bourland, who moved last month from director of exhibits at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to director of historic sites for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is no longer getting a paycheck from taxpayers. His last day on the job was Jan. 6, says Chris Wills, IHPA spokesman, who confi rmed that Bourland is no longer a state employee. Just why is a mystery. Via email, Wills said that he isn’t at liberty to discuss circumstances surrounding Bourland’s departure. Bourland, who has a checkered history as a historic preservationist, couldn’t be reached. The ALPLM hired him in 2015 as exhibits director even though he had few, if any, qualifi cations listed on the written job description (“ALPLM hire has connections,” July 2, 2015). He had previously worked as curator at the governor’s mansion, where a private nonprofi t group paid his salary, and once owned the Clayville historic site near Pleasant Plains. Under Bourland’s stewardship, the Clayville property deteriorated to the point that it was declared one of the state’s most endangered historic properties in 2007 (“Bourland tapped to oversee historic sites,” Dec. 20, 2015). Bourland’s departure isn’t the only one from the library and museum. Katherine Parker, who was hired as the institution’s director of marketing and guest services in 2015, has been moved from the ALPLM to a similar position at the IHPA, Wills confi rmed.