September 09, 2009
September 9, 2009
Amends order eliminating Department of History, Arts, and Libraries
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today issued an executive order ensuring that when the Department of History, Arts and Libraries ceases to exist on October 1, the state's library and historical collections will be preserved and maintained for generations to come.
"As we continue our effort to streamline government and find efficiencies to reduce the cost of doing business, we want to ensure that we preserve and protect what defines us as a state," Granholm said today. "I stand with those who believe that our valuable historical documents, archives and collections need to be protected for the generations that will follow us in the next century."
Under Executive Order 2009-43, the governor is mandating that the state continue its vital role in maintaining and delivering online services to libraries around this state.
The order gives priority to:
services that affect libraries and their patrons throughout the state such as Michigan eLibrary (MeL) and MelCat, the statewide online catalog and resource sharing system;
the preservation of important collections maintained by the Library of Michigan, including the Michigan collection, the Rare Books Collection, and the Genealogy Collection.
The governor is also requiring the Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention Board, established under Executive Order 2009-36, to consider potential ideas to preserve and maximize the benefits to the public of the existing Michigan Library and Historical Center. This includes public input and scrutiny regarding the most effective delivery of state library and historical services and facilities.
The board is specifically charged with recognizing the importance of preserving unique historical assets and collections, including the Michigan Collection, the Rare Documents Collection, and the Genealogy Collection of the Library of Michigan, and the Civil War Flag collection of the Michigan Historical Museum.
Among those the governor will consider for appointment to the board will be librarians, historians, archivists and other qualified individuals with relevant expertise.
Finally, the executive order, which clarifies the intent of Executive Order 2009-36, requires state departments and agencies to actively cooperate to facilitate the continued operation of, and public access to, the important resources at the Michigan Library and Historical Center after October 1.
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