The primary mission and purpose of the Library of Michigan is to promote, advocate and consistently work to achieve the highest level of library service to the State of Michigan and its residents. In implementation of this mission and purpose, the Library of Michigan is directly and specifically responsible to provide priority services to the Legislature, and is also responsible to provide service to the Executive and Judicial branches of state government and to the organized library structure, such as Cooperatives, Regional Educational Media Centers and the multitype library Regions of Cooperation throughout Michigan serving all other clientele. Toward these ends, the Library of Michigan also encourages the creation of a foundation of public and private interests to raise funds in support of the Library of Michigan and libraries generally, beyond the use of public monies.
The goals and objectives of the Library of Michigan's mission include:
Meeting the information needs of the Legislature and State government.
This is accomplished by:
(a) Providing priority reference and research service by a variety of means including print materials and electronic resources;
(b) Compiling reading lists and bibliographies;
(c) Maintaining a collection of, providing information from, and distributing to agencies Michigan state government publications;
(d) Interloaning materials from other libraries;
(e) Providing law library services and information;
(f) Maintaining and providing information from a regional depository collection of federal government publications;
(g) Selecting, cataloging and maintaining the Library's collections;
(h) Providing developmental and technical assistance to State Agency libraries, including establishing and encouraging the sharing of resources by information providers within state government;
(i) Building, maintaining and providing access to informational data bases; and
(j) Exploring and developing programs for enhanced library, information, and research services to state government.
Meeting the administrative, developmental and technical needs of Michigan libraries of all types.
This is accomplished by:
(a) Assessing library and information needs of Michigan citizens;
(b) Providing leadership, coordination and direction for Michigan library development;
(c) Administering state aid to Michigan libraries;
(d) Coordinating the penal fine distribution system;
(e) Administering federal money for Michigan libraries;
(f) Providing consultive service and technical assistance to Michigan libraries;
(g) Collecting, publishing and distributing studies, statistics and other information regarding Michigan libraries;
(h) Monitoring and planning for legislation relating to Michigan libraries and bringing the library and information needs of Michigan and its people to the attention of state government;
(i) Providing certification services and, on request, evaluative assessments to Michigan libraries; and
(j) Providing public relations advice and assistance to Michigan libraries.
Meeting the library service needs of individuals and agencies for which the Library has a statewide resource responsibility.
This is accomplished by:
(a) Providing research assistance, utilizing the Library's special collections in Michigan, law, federal and state documents, genealogy and library science;
(b) Coordinating and administering the statewide interlibrary loan network;
(c) Providing and coordinating the provision of materials for the state's blind and physically handicapped citizens and those residing in state institutions;
(d) Providing information resources of its special collections to all citizens including onsite access and participation in interlibrary loan and other networks;
(e) Providing electronic communication and delivery services, within the limitation of available funds, in such a way as to encourage the sharing of resources among systems and among libraries of all types (schools, academic, public, special, state agency and institutional) and, encourage the extension of services to underserved elements of the population; and
(f) Providing leadership and encouragement for libraries to bridge the gap between those groups in Michigan's population having access to any information in any format through any source and those whose access to needed information is restricted due to age related, linguistic, ethnic, physical, geographic or economic barriers.
The responsibility for the professional supervision of the selection of library materials rests with the Director for Public Services, as directed by the State Librarian. To aid in selection, the Director will designate members of the Public Services staff to assist in specific subject areas.
All suggestions for selection by other Library of Michigan staff, legislators and legislative staff, state agency employees, and the general public will be gratefully received and reviewed against the current collection development policy. Requests for reconsideration will also be reviewed against the current collection development policy. (See Appendix A.)
Information resources are available in various formats, e.g. paper, microform, and electronic. Where alternative formats are available, the selector will use judgment to identify items of greatest benefit to the collection and Library of Michigan.
The accessibility of information at the Library of Michigan does not constitute an endorsement by the Library. A user who finds inaccurate or offensive information should contact the original producer of that information.
The Library of Michigan subscribes to the American Library Association's Bill of Rights. (See Appendix B.)
The goal of the preservation policy of the Library of Michigan is to maintain the collection for use by future generations. These efforts to preserve are threefold: prevention of deterioration, repairing damage, and preventing further deterioration. See Library of Michigan Preservation Policy and Plan.
Based on the Association of Research Libraries' North American Collections Inventory Project (NCIP), five levels are used to express qualitative judgments about collection levels and goals for purchase. Standard terms allow comparison of collections with other institutions using this system.
Out of Scope: The Library of Michigan does not collect in this area. Minimal Level: A subject area in which few selections are made beyond very basic works.
Basic Level: A collection of materials which will introduce and define a subject and indicate the varieties of information available elsewhere. It may include major works, general surveys, important bibliographies, handbooks, and a few major periodicals. A collection developed at this level will support government programs or independent study in the subject area involved at an introductory level. It may also include retrospective holdings in subject areas that were, at one time, a higher priority of the Library.
Support Level: A collection intended to support legislative and governmental interests and programs, network responsibilities, and sustained independent study. It is adequate to maintain knowledge of a subject required for generalized purposes of less than research intensity. It includes a wide range of basic monographs, complete collections of the works of primary writers, selections from the major journals, and the reference tools and fundamental bibliographic works pertaining to the subject.
Research Level: A collection which includes the major source materials required for governmental, professional and independent research. It includes all important reference works, and a wide selection of specialized monographs, as well as a very extensive collection of journals and major indexing and abstracting services in the field. Older material is retained for historical research.
Comprehensive Level: A collection in which the Library of Michigan collects, as far as is reasonably possible, all significant works of recorded knowledge in a necessarily defined and limited field. The aim, if not the achievement, is complete coverage of the topic.
Basic reference sources, including directories, will be collected. Materials dealing with the regulation of these institutions will be collected at a RESEARCH level.
HJ Public finance. Revenue. Taxation. Public credit and debt in relation to state policy. Local finance - COMPREHENSIVE.
HM Sociology (General and theoretical) - BASIC.
HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform - SUPPORT.
HQ The family. Marriage. Woman - SUPPORT.
HS Societies: Secret, benevolent, etc. Clubs - MINIMAL.
HT Communities. Classes. Races - SUPPORT.
HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology - RESEARCH.
HX Socialism. Communism. Anarchism - MINIMAL.
J-Political Science
J Official documents - For the Federal Documents and Michigan Documents collection policies, see SPECIAL AREAS.
JA Collections and general works - BASIC.
JC Political theory. Theory of the state - BASIC, except Civil Rights - SUPPORT.
JF Constitutional history and administration - RESEARCH.
Includes organizations and functions of government, federal and state relations, political rights and guarantees and political parties.
JK United States (constitutional history) - RESEARCH.
JL British America. Latin America - BASIC.
JN Europe - BASIC.
JQ Asia. Africa. Australia. Oceania - MINIMAL.
JS Local government - SUPPORT.
JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration - BASIC.
JX International law. International relations - BASIC.
K-Law - BASIC for the general collection.
See X. for the Law Library Policy.
L-Education
L Education (General) - BASIC.
LA History of education - BASIC.
LB Theory and practice of education - BASIC.
LC Special aspects of education - SUPPORT, except pertaining to individual institutions - BASIC.
LD United States individual institutions - BASIC.
LE American individual institutions, except U.S. - MINIMAL.
LF Europe - MINIMAL.
LG Asia. Africa. Oceania - MINIMAL.
LH College and school magazines and papers - MINIMAL.
LJ Student fraternities and societies, U.S. - MINIMAL.
LT Textbooks - MINIMAL.
M-Music - MINIMAL.
N-Fine Arts - MINIMAL, except:
NA Barrier free architecture - SUPPORT.
NX Government patronage. Arts management - SUPPORT.
P-Language and Literature - MINIMAL, except:
P 87-96 Communication. Mass media - BASIC.
P 301-301.5 Style. Composition. Rhetoric - BASIC.
P 301-301.5 Style. Composition. Rhetoric - BASIC.
PN 6080-6095 Quotations - SUPPORT.
PZ Juvenile belles lettres - OUT OF SCOPE.
Q -Science - BASIC, except:
QH Natural history (General) - SUPPORT.
R-Medicine - BASIC, except:
RA Public aspects of medicine - SUPPORT.
S-Agriculture - BASIC, except:
S 560-575 Farm management. Farm economics - SUPPORT.
S 900-970 Conservation of natural resources - SUPPORT.
SB 481-485 Parks and public reservations - SUPPORT.
The Library of Michigan is grateful for gifts and its collections have been enriched by contributions from individuals and other libraries.
The Library reserves the right to decide which gifts should be added to its collections. The Library also reserves the right to give to other libraries or otherwise dispose of gift materials that are not added to the collection. (See Appendix C.)
All gift materials selected must meet the criteria of this Collection Development Policy.
Physical condition will be considered when accepting gifts.
The Genealogy Collection, maintained at the main library, focuses on the state of Michigan and the areas from which the great majority of Michigan's early settlers immigrated. Other genealogical materials which help Michigan residents trace their family histories are also acquired. Areas of selection include the New England states, the Mid-Atlantic states, the Great Lakes states, the Southern states and the Province of Ontario and Quebec.
Geographic Area
(a) Michigan - COMPREHENSIVE.
(b) All the states in the northeast quadrant of the U.S. and eastern Canada - COMPREHENSIVE.
(c) Other selected states from which numbers of Michigan residents or their ancestors emigrated - SUPPORT.
(d) Other countries from which numbers of Michigan residents or their ancestors emigrated - SUPPORT.
Special Explanations
(a) Family histories are acquired as gifts. They are purchased only if they substantially relate to Michigan families. Michigan family biographies which do not focus on lineage are added to the Library's Michigan Collection.
(b) Genealogical reference tools (bibliographies, census indexes, periodical indexes, and guidebooks) for all geographic areas - RESEARCH.
The Library of Michigan is a regional depository for the U.S. Government Printing Office, and therefore, must adhere to the acquisition requirements of chapter 19 of Title 44 of the U.S. Code. The Library acquires additional documents as prescribed by the Michigan Plan for the Federal Depository Library System.
Commercial monographs or serials directly related to federal government activities are acquired at a SUPPORT level. Bibliographies and indexes to retrospective materials are purchased at a RESEARCH level.
The depository collection is supplemented by non-depository documents and by resource materials which facilitate the use of this collection.
The Library of Michigan Act (1982, P.A. 540, M.C.L. 397.11) mandates the acquisition and retention of State of Michigan publications intended for public distribution. The Official Collection serves as the permanent record and does not circulate; selected items will be located in the Law Library.
The purpose of the collection is to provide a representative sampling of current materials on governmental organization, function, issues, and trends in other states, especially as it relates to the interests and concerns of Michigan.
Current and historical materials are acquired in all subjects which concentrate on Michigan and the Great Lakes area. Materials should enhance the knowledge of the state and its people. Items which complement the Michigan Collection are added to the general collection. SUPPORT.
Nonfiction
The Library of Michigan's overall goal is to collect non-fiction Michigan materials at the COMPREHENSIVE level. Some categories will be collected at different levels in accordance with the following guidelines.
(a) Geographic Area
(i) Michigan - The present boundaries of the state and the Michigan Territory when its area differed from the present state boundaries - COMPREHENSIVE.
(ii) Great Lakes - The lakes as a total topic, or any one of the four Great Lakes touching Michigan - RESEARCH.
(b) Special Explanations
(i) Michiganians as Subjects and Authors of non-fiction materials. Only those works which add appreciably to the knowledge of Michigan will be added to the collection. Works by or about Michiganians which have limited relevance to Michigan will be evaluated individually.
(ii) Description and travel material about the Michigan/Great Lakes states - RESEARCH.
(iii) Legal Materials. A quick reference collection of Michigan law materials is maintained in the Government Documents Collection. The Law Library Division is relied on for in-depth Michigan legal materials. Law materials deemed inappropriate to the Law Library may be added to the Michigan Collection at a BASIC level.
(iv) Michigan regional, county, and municipal documents - BASIC.
(v) County government directories - SUPPORT.
(vi) City/regional directories - SUPPORT.
(vii) Telephone directories - Current Michigan telephone directories - COMPREHENSIVE. Back files are not acquired or retained, except for those of private phone companies and pre-1940 public phone companies.
(viii) Annual reports to shareholders of Michigan companies - RESEARCH.
Fiction and poetry by writers identified with Michigan will be evaluated individually and selected at a SUPPORT level. In general, the selector will judge whether an item adds to the knowledge of the state.
The Rare Book Collection's purpose is to preserve and protect valuable library materials.
Rare and valuable books - The Library maintains a rare book collection. A book's contribution to the collection, as defined by the Collection Development Policy, remains an important criterion for accession. Collection decisions rest with the Director for Public Services as directed by the State Librarian.
Selection criteria - These criteria are intended as guidelines.
(a) Early Imprints -
(i) Pre-1800 European imprints.
(ii) Pre-1820 United States imprints (except Michigan).
(iii) Pre-1850 Michigan imprints, except for serials, large sets, journals, and government documents which are not rare.
(b) Rare or valuable items - These can include materials which are scarce or have high monetary value.
(c) "Association Items" - Association items with important inscriptions, autographs, or valuable ownership by historically significant persons may be included.
(d) Items with fine binding or printing, press books, special editions, manuscripts, and other special printing or characteristics.
The Library of Michigan may withdraw items no longer deemed useful from its collections. Decisions will be made judiciously, keeping in mind that the Library of Michigan's priorities are to serve the informational needs of the Legislature and state government, as well as Michigan's libraries and residents.
In general, items may be withdrawn if the subject matter is de-emphasized by the Collection Development Policy. Documents received through the Depository Library program may be withdrawn as authorized by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office.
Michigan citizens who are registered to receive service from the Library of Michigan Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (SBPH) network should have access to the same books and information made available to citizens through Michigan's public libraries. The Library of Michigan SBPH should offer standard, classic and informative titles plus works of popular interest which reflect the diverse needs of the readership. The Library of Michigan SBPH adheres to the selection criteria and guidelines stated in the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LC/NLS) Selection Policy for Reading Materials. The Library of Michigan SBPH also adheres to the Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (American Library Association, 1984) which states: "Regional and subregional libraries shall produce special format materials emphasizing user demand and titles of regional and local significance."
B. Purpose
The Library of Michigan SBPH maintains at least one serviceable copy of the LC/NLS mass produced collection in recorded and braille formats. The Audio Materials Production Program of the Library of Michigan SBPH uses volunteer transcribers to record or braille materials pertaining to Michigan and the Great Lakes area and materials for use by the Legislature and state government agencies. The purpose of this policy is to provide selection guidelines for materials to be transcribed by volunteers and to furnish a retention policy for the entire collection.
C. Responsibility
The responsibility for the selection and retention of materials rests with the Library of Michigan SBPH administrator as directed by the State Librarian. To aid in selection, the SBPH administrator will designate members of the SBPH staff to assist in specific subject areas.
D. Selection Criteria for Audio and Braille Production
Books and magazines focusing on Michigan and the Great Lakes area. This includes all areas of non-fiction and fiction with a Michigan or Great Lakes setting.
Books written by authors closely identified with Michigan or the Great Lakes area.
Materials including, but not limited to, books, documents and magazine articles for the use of the Legislature and state government agencies.
E. Considerations for Selection
The quality of the writing will be considered when determining whether or not the material will be transcribed. One measure will be favorable reviews in standard reviewing sources.
Normally the Library of Michigan SBPH will not record or braille materials available from LC/NLS or other readily accessible sources. If the item is only available in a format the requestor cannot use, an exception may be made.
The materials must be within the capability of available volunteer narrators or braillists. The complexity of the text, the difficulty of translating charts or illustrations into braille or narrative, the use of foreign language words and phrases and other elements in the text will be considered.
A commitment to transcribe any magazine will only be made if such transcription can be done in a continually timely fashion and of a continually acceptable quality.
F. Retention
The Library of Michigan SBPH will keep at least one copy of each LC/NLS mass produced title unless the title has been withdrawn by LC/NLS. Extra copies of titles will be disposed of when the demand for them abates. Disposal will be through the LC/NLS program.
The Library of Michigan SBPH volunteer produced collection will be evaluated on a regular basis. Titles will be removed if they are later found to be readily available from other sources. Titles will be removed if the materials are obsolete or if the quality of the transcription or the physical condition of the materials is poor.
G. Gifts
The Library of Michigan SBPH is grateful for gifts of braille, recorded and electronic sources. The Library of Michigan SBPH reserves the right to decide which gifts should be added to the collection. It also reserves the right to give to other libraries or otherwise dispose of gift materials that are not added to the collection. All gift materials selected must meet the criteria of this Collection Development policy. Physical condition and quality of brailling or narration will be considered when accepting gifts.
The collection development policy for the Law Library contains information on two types of law materials, primary and secondary. Primary law is found in written constitutions and enactments of the legislature, rulings and regulations issued by authorized administrative bodies and written opinions of the courts and court rules. Secondary sources interpret and discuss primary law. Secondary sources include treatises, periodicals and journals, form books, citators and loose-leaf services. The Law Library will collect:
A. Federal primary law - COMPREHENSIVE
Slip laws, statutes at large and codes, including legislative history as found in United States Code Congressional and Administrative News. Full treatment of legislative history is available from the Government Documents Collection of the Library of Michigan.
Regulations in the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations.
Administrative opinions available through the government depository system.
Court opinions (published) and court rules.
B. Michigan primary law - COMPREHENSIVE
Session laws and codes, including legislative history from the house and senate journals and bill analyses.
Regulations in the Michigan Administrative Code, annual supplements and Michigan Register.
Administrative opinions which are in demand and available.
Court opinions (published) and court rules.
C. Primary law for states other than Michigan - SUPPORT
Session laws are collected. Official codes generally are not collected. The Law Library collects annotated codes that are updated annually. Current legislation is available electronically.
Administrative opinions are not collected.
The Law Library collects court opinions in official reporters and the regional reporters and advance sheets. Court rules from states in the Sixth Circuit, states contiguous to Michigan and other selected states are also collected.
D. Secondary Law
KF - Law United States
154 Encyclopedias and dictionaries - RESEARCH
159 Legal maxims and quotations - SUPPORT
165 Uniform state laws - RESEARCH
170 Form books - SUPPORT
180 Judicial statistics - SUPPORT
240 Legal research and bibliography - SUPPORT
250 Legal composition - SUPPORT
261 Legal education - BASIC
297 Legal profession - RESEARCH
350 History - SUPPORT
379 Jurisprudence - SUPPORT
394 Common law - SUPPORT
398 Equity - SUPPORT
410 Conflict of laws - RESEARCH
465 Persons: status and capacity - RESEARCH
501 Family law - SUPPORT
560 Property - RESEARCH
726 Trusts and trustees - SUPPORT
746 Estate planning and wills - SUPPORT
801 Contracts
General principles - RESEARCH
Government contracts - SUPPORT
Sale of goods - SUPPORT
Banking - SUPPORT
Secured transactions - SUPPORT
Securities - SUPPORT
Carriers of goods and passengers including admiralty - SUPPORT
Insurance - SUPPORT
1246 Torts - RESEARCH
1341 Agency - SUPPORT
1355 Partnership, corporations - SUPPORT
1501 Bankruptcy and creditor's rights - SUPPORT
1601 Trade regulation - general - SUPPORT
1681 Primary production and extractive industries (fishing, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, forestry) - RESEARCH
1875 Manufacturing industries - SUPPORT
1900 Food processing industries - BASIC
1950 Construction and building industry - SUPPORT
1970 Trade and commerce - SUPPORT
2076 Public utilities - SUPPORT
2161 Transportation and communication - RESEARCH
2971 Intellectual property - SUPPORT
3301 Labor - RESEARCH
3600 Social insurance - SUPPORT
3720 Public welfare - SUPPORT
3775 Public health - RESEARCH
3821 Medical legislation - SUPPORT
3861 Food, drugs, cosmetics - BASIC
3941 Public safety (weapons, hazardous substances, fire prevention) - BASIC
3985 Control of social activities (amusements, sports, lotteries) - SUPPORT
4101 Education - RESEARCH
4270 Sciences and arts - SUPPORT
4501 Constitutional law - RESEARCH
4650 Foreign relations - BASIC
4700 Individuals and state (citizenship, immigration) -BASIC
4865 Church and state - BASIC
4880 Organs of government - SUPPORT
5300 Local government - RESEARCH
5336 Civil service - SUPPORT
5399 Police - SUPPORT
5401 Administrative law - RESEARCH
5500 Public property (roads and bridges, public land, planning, zoning) - RESEARCH
5900 Government measures in time of war - BASIC
6200 Public finance - general - SUPPORT
6271 Taxation - SUPPORT
6651 Tariff and trade agreements - BASIC
6720 State and local finance - RESEARCH
7201 National defense - BASIC
8201 Indians - SUPPORT
8700 Civil procedure - RESEARCH
9085 Arbitration and award - SUPPORT
9201 Criminal law and procedure - SUPPORT
E. Periodicals
The Law Library periodical collection provides a balance between legal scholarship and practitioner-oriented information.
The following kinds of periodicals are collected:
(a) Law reviews, which are the forum of legal scholars;
(b) Bar journals, commercially published journals and reporters intended to report and comment on the latest developments in the law;
(c) Newsletters from bar associations and other private organizations and public agencies, which report developments in the law and also provide association information; and
(d) National and Michigan daily, weekly and monthly legal newspapers.
Selection criteria include:
(a) A treatment of American law; selected Canadian periodicals are collected;
(b) A focus on issues of concern to state or local government;
(c) A focus on rapidly developing areas of the law;
(d) Periodicals indexed in at least one of the two major legal periodical indexes of national scope, LegalTrac and the Index to Legal Periodicals. Inclusion in these indexes indicates substantial research value;
(e) Unindexed Michigan periodicals dealing with Michigan law, which are valuable for information on legal developments in Michigan; some of these publications have their own annual indexes.
Copies of the current Library of Michigan "Collection Development Policy", "Suggestion for Purchase or Electronic Access" forms, and "Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources" forms are available at all Public Services desks. The requestor will be invited to complete a "Suggestion for Purchase or Electronic Access" form.
Guidelines for Reconsideration of Library Materials:
A patron who objects to an item already in the collection or made electronically accessible by the Library will be invited to discuss the reasons privately with a librarian.
The staff member will explain the criteria for selection, acquisition, or access (see Library of Michigan Internet Policy).
The resource in question will be retained by the Library until the full reconsideration process is complete.
Action on the written reconsideration request will then be carried out as follows:
(a) The Director of Public Services will evaluate the original reasons for purchase or access in terms of the Library's Collection Development Policy.
(b) The State Librarian will be notified that a Request for Reconsideration has been filed and action is pending.
(c) A review committee appointed by the Director of Public Services will meet as soon as possible to review the request, the resource in question, and to make a recommendation to the State Librarian.
(d)& The State Librarian will make the final determination and a written response will be provided.
To aid us in locating and considering your suggestion, please fill out our Suggestion Form as completely as possible. Suggested resources will be given prompt and careful consideration for purchase or electronic access according to the purposes of the collection and criteria for selection as stated in the library's collection development policy and in accordance with funds currently available.
If you would like to look for similar titles in the Library of Michigan collection, please request the aid of a reference librarian at this time.
Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials
To aid us in locating and considering your suggestion, please fill out our Reconsideration Form as completely as possible.
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgement of free expression and free access to ideas.
A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
Adopted June 18, 1948
Amended February 2, 1961, June 27, 1967,
and January 23, 1980,
by the ALA Council.
Reprinted by permission of the
American Library Association
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