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-----Original Message-----
From:  On Behalf Of Sarjeant, Bruce C
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 7:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Library of Michigan News

Dear FDLP Community,
Some of you may or not be aware that on Friday February 12th, the Governor of Michigan all but eliminated the Library of Michigan (memo follows this note).  Collections are to be dispersed and consolidated.  The Library of Michigan is also our Regional Library, and all libraries in Michigan (not just the 42 FDLP selective libraries in the state) are about to be left in the lurch.  The memo of February 12th, in part, reads:

"...the Library and the Department are committed to ensuring the stewardship and on-going support of the Regional Federal Depository Program and Federal Documents Collection by working with the Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention Board, and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to identify agencies or organizations within Michigan but outside of state government to manage and administer the collection and program in a location other than the Michigan Library and Historical Center."

How this is to be accomplished is to be determined.  That the State is committed to "the stewardship and on-going support of the Regional Federal Depository Program and Federal Documents Collection" yet wants to wash its hands entirely of the collection itself makes no sense.  Frankly, it's a shame.  We don't believe they understand what the FDLP is about: what a Regional Library means to the program, what moving a collection that numbers nearly 2 million items means, what government publications, both current and historical, are to any library collection.  To move such a collection, any collection of that size-if there is a willing organization and has the space to house and care for it in Michigan-is an odd way of saving money.  We're doubtful that the State can suddenly announce the elimination of the Regional Library (44 U.S.C. § 1912 indicates each state should have a regional).  It is ironic as well that 2010 is the 150th anniversary of the Library of Michigan being a !
 Federal Depository Library.  Few libraries in the country can make such a proud claim.
GODORT of Michigan is currently working on a plan of action to become involved with the Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention Board as they undertake Governor Granholm's directive.  Perhaps there is time to intervene and prevent the elimination and removal of the Regional Library and its collection.


Feb 12th Memo
February 12, 2010


When the Library of Michigan was transferred to the Michigan Department of Education through Executive Orders 2009-36 and 2009-43 and Executive Directive 2009-5, those Orders charged the Superintendent of Public Instruction to evaluate Library of Michigan programs and services in order to implement measures to reduce expenditures and eliminate duplicative services, while protecting the core mission of the library and otherwise preserving and maintaining open and free access to its collections.

The response to the Executive Orders and related directive is in alignment with (but not solely dependent upon) the significant reduction in operations funding for the Library of Michigan during the current fiscal year 2009-10 and the additional anticipated reduction in operations funding for the next fiscal year 2010-11.

After months of development, the Library of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Education have met the Governor's expectations for downsizing and for continuation of services by developing the following plan, to be implemented from today forward through completion by not later than October 1, 2011:

The Library of Michigan Executive Order Implementation Plan allows the Library of Michigan to focus on and strengthen the sustainability of its core mission.

The Library will continue to
*       support, develop and promote statewide library services to all Michigan libraries;
*       provide reference research services for all branches of state government;
*       maintain and provide on-site access to its core collections including Law, Michigan, and Michigan Documents; and
*       fulfill the Library's duties as prescribed in Public Act 540 of 1982. The statewide library services include the administration of the Michigan eLibrary (www.mel.org) and all of its components; the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) federal grant, other federal and state and private grants, federal and state statistics collection and reporting; and the distribution of state aid to public libraries program.

The Library of Michigan and the Department are committed to ensuring the stewardship and on-going support of the Genealogy Collection by working with the recently-appointed Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention Board, and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to identify agencies or organizations within Michigan but outside of state government to manage and administer the collection and services either in its current location within the Michigan Library and Historical Center or elsewhere in Michigan.
Similarly, the Library and the Department are committed to ensuring the stewardship and on-going support of the Regional Federal Depository Program and Federal Documents Collection by working with the Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention Board, and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to identify agencies or organizations within Michigan but outside of state government to manage and administer the collection and program in a location other than the Michigan Library and Historical Center.

Materials from the General Main, Dewey, and Reference Collections currently housed and maintained at the Library of Michigan will be offered to Michigan libraries to supplement other existing collections. The remaining Library of Michigan collections, services, and staff will be consolidated into the top two floors of the west wing of the Michigan Library and Historical Center.

This Executive Order Implementation Plan is designed to strengthen the sustainability of the Library of Michigan by focusing solely upon its core mission as the state library and an essential component of state government for the residents and libraries of the state of Michigan. We welcome suggestions and participation in finding and securing effective and sustainable agreements with the new stewards of these important collections and services as we continue to downsize state government and hold true to the core mission of the Library of Michigan.


Bruce Sarjeant (Past President of GODORT of MI)
Reference/Documents & Maps Librarian
Lydia M. Olson Library
Northern Michigan University
1401 Presque Isle Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855
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906-227-1580