Rumors have been swirling for some weeks about the fate of the History Arts and Libraries [HAL] department in the face of revenue decreases and funding issues facing the Country in general and Michigan specifically. A proposal on the table will dissolve the Department [HAL] in the new budget, resulting in the Library of Michigan, the Archives of Michigan, the Historical Museum and other functions of HAL being divided among other state departments. The goal is to reduce expenses by reducing departments.
You can find out about HAL services on their site, follow this link: [ http://www.michigan.gov/hal/ ]. OCGS believes HAL has served the needs of researchers in the state in multiple ways and is a valuable service.
Additionally, a budget hearing will be held in Lansing on Thursday, March 12, 2009.
According to Joanne Harvey, Research Access Chair for the Michigan Genealogical Council,
"There is a rather public rumor that one group is considering closing the Library of Michigan entirely, and emptying the west side of the History, Arts and Libraries building.......The Library's collection might be offered to a "local university," obviously Michigan State University, which has never had a genealogy collection and is itself facing large cuts. Some form of legal and archival support for the Michigan government must be maintained by law, but its format is debatable. [Format and formation is not defined by law]
One OCGS member received independent confirmation that a proposal to close the Library and split the collection is on the table.
We need to let our legislators know how we feel about the Library of Michigan, the services it provides to us, as individuals, and to the genealogical community as well as to our local libraries and other patrons.
OCGS asks you to consider:
- Those who are unemployed use the computers at libraries to do job searches and as many prospective employers have online applications, the availability of computers at libraries is critical for them.
- The databases available through Library of Michigan are well utilized.
- The Abrams Foundation has pumped at least a million dollars into materials for the collection at Library of Michigan.
- The Historical Center, with Library of Michigan, Archives of Michigan and the Historical Museum are a crown jewel for the State of Michigan.
- It is unthinkable to just dump all of this and fragment the collection, or place it in locations with limited access, limited parking.
On Thursday, March 12 there is a meeting of the Senate Appropriation Committee to discuss budget issues relating to the future of libraries and the Library of Michigan. You may contact Senator Thomas George by phone at 517-373-2768 to express your support for the Library. You may visit his web page at:
http://xrl.in/1qrs
for more contact options.
Senator George, and contact your local State legislators to express your feelings about the Library and what it means to you. We need everyone to show this is important to us.
All genealogists need to get into immediate contact with their local Senators and Representatives, emphasizing forcefully that the Library, even downsized severely, needs to be preserved. Make it plain to your legislator that you understand our state's fiscal situation, and that you are amenable to severe cuts, but that the statewide internet, inter-library loan, electronic support, are crucial to Michigan citizens and that you as a taxpayer feel they must be maintained in at least some format.
Contact your State representative prior to the Thursday meeting. Find the information you need to do so here:
http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp
Contact your State Senator prior to the Thursday meeting. Find the information you need to do so here:
http://senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm
Thank you.
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