It Will Be History, Library of Michigan

Every now and then I will be posting under the title "IT WILL BE HISTORY". The posts will be about current events that may perhaps make the history book somewhere someday, or remain in the memories of us that think history.
My first post was going to be on a different subject in a couple of weeks, it now will be second. I found the following subject to compelling to wait. ~~
[ORIGINALLY DATED MARCH 14, 2009]



UPDATED AUGUST 8, 2009: OCTOBER 1, 2009 THE LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN WILL BE GONE!!

THE TIME IS NOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN !!

A VOTE TO REVERSE MUST BE BY SEPTEMBER 13, 2009, DOORS WILL CLOSE OCTOBER 1, 2009.

SEND YOUR LETTER, OR EMAIL TO MICHIGAN SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITEE AND SUB COMMITEE MEMBERS!!

SEE GENEALOGY INSIDER FOR ARTICLE

SEE MICHIGAN GENEALOGICAL COUNCIL FOR WHO TO WRITE TO

What annoys me most is no real effort has been made to find a way to make the Library of Michigan pay for itself, even in part, or to budget costs in order to keep. Instead, an idea to use the building for a technology school came into play. Now the cost to renovate this building for this use, equip it with the needed "tools" to function, and to continue its existance year after year will cost tax payers.....and how much?? 1.8 million? Well I am no financial analyst, but I bet it is near 1.8 million and counting. We have other buildings. The library could become more cost efficient with some creative thinking. My bet is the Governor has never used the Library of Michigan, and doesn't realize what will be lost.


March 2009:

It has been brought to my attention that the Govenor of Michigan in the attempts to restrain the budget is considering ‘eliminating’ the Library of Michigan.

I am personally aware as all of us are the state of our economic crisis. It hits home as it does to us all. I understand while the Library of Michigan is not bread and butter on the table, it is still a very important resource for the citizens of Michigan.

We in Muskegon County for quite some time now have become well versed in budget cuts, and economic woes. In the recent past we encountered a similar situation in which the county of Muskegon considered elimination of funding local libraries. Preservation prevailed and the funding for the libraries remains intact, but it was a close call.

Some folks think that libraries are obsolete, thinking all library resources are now on the internet. This is far from truth. The libraries hold vast and valuable collections, that of which may NEVER be put on the internet. Once this resource is gone, it cannot be retrieved.

Below is my response letter of concern to Senator Tom George, Chair of the Sub-Committee for the Dept. of History, Arts & Libraries (HAL)

Please consider joining me in voicing preservation of the Library of Michigan by accessing this link to a form letter to write to him:
http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/senators/contact.asp?District=20



Re: Library of Michigan

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing in regards to Governor Granholm's decision to possibly place the collections and services of the Library of Michigan under the direction of Michigan State University, as part of the Governor's efforts to reduce the state budget.

In the recent past we in Muskegon County encountered a similar problem in which the county considered 'letting the library system go'. With a lot of effort we concerned citizens managed to convince the county to continue to keep the Library now a 'district' library on the tax roll. It would have been a irreversible travesty had the collections of the local branch libraries gone into private hands.

The Library of Michigan holds a priceless commodity of knowledge & resources for Michigan [and this is the keyword]- CITIZENS. Should this collection go into the hands of private entity or other, there are no restrictions on what could happen to this collection. Not to mention the CITIZENS OF MICHIGAN may not be able to have the access to it they once did; whether not at all, a fee to view and access, or the decision somewhere down the road that the University doesn't want all or any of this collection for whatever reason at the time[budget cuts for example].

Keeping the collection should not be about high volume visitation, rather a citizen resource that should be preserved.

Please SERIOUSLY consider KEEPING THIS COLLECTION in the hands of the citizens of Michigan. Cut open hours and days if necessary, a small and reasonable fee if needed...just keep it in the hands of Michigan citizens. Once the decision is made to give it up, there is no turning back. An irreversible travesty.

Very sincere and concerned,
Holly Spencer
Ravenna, Michigan