State of Michigan dissolved Dept. of History, Arts and Libraries; more changes pending for FY10

From Nancy Robinson, State Librarian of the Library of Michigan, on reorganizations and budget cuts that affect state-wide library services in Michigan.  As posted to MICHLIB-L
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Today Governor Granholm issued the executive order (EO 2009-36) that dissolves the Dept. of History, Arts and Libraries effective 10/1/2009. The details of the EO are posted on her website:
http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21975---,00.html

Of course, some of the details define big changes for parts of the Library of Michigan (significantly, the Census/Demographer functions go to DIT and the Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped go to the Dept. of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth's Commission for the Blind). The remainder of LM will go to the Dept. of Education (MDE). Requirements for the Dept. of Education to look at collection and programming cuts to effect budgetary reductions will be our major challenge, but we will work with the Superintendent of Schools and his MDE administrative staff to review and evaluate how those changes in collections and programming and the resulting staffing changes might or might not work.

Nothing about all of that is settled at this point, and much of our future is also dependent upon the still unknown outcomes for the budget for FY10. So, more is known at this point and planning is made more feasible in many ways. But, there is still more information pending that will help us to plan for the future of the Library of Michigan, our collections, our programming, and our staffing. Thanks for your patience and support.

Nancy

Nancy R. Robertson
State Librarian