[Genealib] Library of Michigan status

[KIM S HARRISON]

Here is the most recent press release from the Michigan Genealogical Council.  Please consider coming and/or write to State of MI about how the lost of one great library is one too many.

 

PRESS RELEASE
.
The Michigan Genealogical Council issued the following invitation on July 22. We
would appreciate any help you can give us in covering this event.
Fellow Michigan genealogists and library supporters -
Now is the time for Michiganians to come to the aid of our state's history and
learning.
Your Michigan Genealogical Council is planning a public assembly in Lansing to
show our legislators and fellow citizens that we care about our state's past.
On Wednesday the 5th of August, let's assemble at the State Capitol, on the
lawn. We have reserved the North and South lawns, and the steps. Time, 9:45
a.m. The State Senate goes into session at 10 a.m., the only time in the next few
weeks we can be certain our legislators will be assembled at Lansing.
At 10:30 a.m., we will process/march over to the Michigan Historical Center and
form our Hands Around the Library -- in hopes of good media coverage! Since
the perimeter of the building is around 1800 feet, it is obvious we can use as many
genealogists or friends of libraries/history of all types as possible. Please
definitely let your local Society know you are coming for sure, since you can see
that we need coverage - flags and ribbons can be held between people as well as
hands and arms.
We'll stay around the building probably 20 minutes starting at 11:00 a.m. -- then
off to visit our legislators -- then lunch, research, or museum viewing!
Thanks for your support of Michigan's past … and our future. Please let us know
how many from your Society will be able to participate -- and questions to Sue
Irvine sjirv at yahoo.com.
Your Michigan Genealogical Council
 
The Library of Michigan has a long and rich history of serving the citizens of Michigan
 Keeping this collection of all things Michigan together is our highest priority.
 The largest collection of Michigan newspaper microfilm calls the Library of Michigan
home, covering all 83 counties of the state, over 1700 titles covering more than 400
cities, townships and villages. A collection of this scope cannot be found anywhere
else.
 The largest collection of Michigan city directories in the state. These directories
document place of residence and occupation of Michigan throughout the years.
Patrons of the Library still use this collection not only for studying the past
genealogy, but also in planning for the future entrepreneurship and small business.
 If you are doing research regarding Michigan, you can find it at the Library of
Michigan, whether it is Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing, Traverse City,
Marquette or St. Ignace. All of this is available in ONE LOCATION.
 The Library of Michigan’s Michigan collection is available to you even if you cannot
come to Lansing. The Michigan Collection has an extra copy for inter‐library loan.
Therefore, if you live in Escanaba, Sturgis, or Dundee, and cannot make the trip to
Lansing, the item you are interested in can be loaned to your local library.
 Ethnic Collections, like the Gorski collection, which focuses on Michigan’s Polish
Heritage, are not available elsewhere.
 The Library of Michigan funds the Michigan Electronic Library (MeL) which includes a
vast collection of databases available for use from home.
 The collection also collects in the Great Lakes region, New England, the Mid Atlantic,
and the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Michigan is not in a vacuum.
The Governor’s Executive order would dissolve this part of the genealogy collection.
 “Innovation and Reinvention” can be done anywhere. Our state’s cultural heritage
center belongs together, in the Michigan Historical Center.
For more background on replacing the Library of Michigan with “Innovation and
Reinvention” please read the front page of the Lansing State Journal,
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090719/NEWS06/907190625/1102/NEWS06
, MSU, city, state may partner on museum; Innovation center may replace Mich. Library
downtown.
If you have any questions about the event at the Capitol or Library please contact Sue Irvine
at sjirv at yahoo.com. Other questions regarding the position of the Michigan Genealogical
Council may be directed to me.
Thank you,
Tom Koselka, Corresponding Secretary
Michigan Genealogical Council
tom at mimgc.org


 


Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:38:05 -0400
From: rzepczynskik at michigan.gov
To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
Subject: [Genealib] Library of Michigan status


Colleagues,
 
As indicated in previous posts, Governor Granholm recently issued EO 2009-36, calling for the elimination of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL) and a restructuring of HAL agencies and programs. The order is (unless rejected by the Legislature) effective 1 October 2009. 
 
The full text of the EO can be found here in PDF format: http://michigan.gov/documents/gov/EO36_285881_7.pdf. As indicated by the State Librarian, we do not have additional information beyond the EO, in regard to Library of Michigan collections and programs.  As the EO is being reviewed, there are also major decisions to be made in the appropriations process. Because the EO is set to take effect Oct. 1 - which is also the first day of the new fiscal year - everyone involved is doing their best to ensure a smooth transition in difficult times.
 

Interested library & archives staff and/or researchers who would like to comment on the EO may wish to contact the Governor's Office directly, or one of the several state associations who are closely monitoring the situation, including the Michigan Library Association and the Michigan Genealogical Council.
 
Thank you. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Kris Rzepczynski
Michigan/Genealogy Coordinator
Library of Michigan
517.373.9456
rzepczynskik at michigan.gov
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