The Library of Michigan is a state-run library and historical center located in
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, making ...
that was created to provide one perpetual state institution to collect and preserve Michigan publications, conduct reference and research, and support libraries statewide.
[1982 PA 540: Library of Michigan Act]
/ref>Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries
The Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries (MHAL) was an agency of the U.S. state of Michigan. Its official name was ''Michigan History, Arts and Libraries''. It was created in 2001 and was eliminated in 2009.
History and responsibil ...
state agency and, as of 2009, under the Michigan Department of Education
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is a state agency of Michigan, in the United States. The MDE oversees public school districts in the state. The department is governed by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education was fi ...
, the library is Michigan’s official state library agency. A notable side-project of the Library of Michigan is the Michigan eLibrary
Michigan eLibrary or Michigan electronic library (shortened as MeL), is an online library service of the state of Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midw ...
(MeL), one of the first online libraries on the Internet. MeL provides full-text articles, books, Michigan history materials, and evaluated web sites to residents of the state of Michigan. In 2003, the Library of Michigan Board of Trustees elected as chair Elaine Didier
Elaine Didier ( ; born 1948) is the director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum in Michigan, United States. Didier worked at the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1999, where she earned her Doctorate (PhD) in 1982. She was ...
, dean of Oakland University
Oakland University is a public research university in Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills, Michigan. Founded in 1957 through a donation of Matilda Dodge Wilson, it was initially known as Michigan State University-Oakland, operating under the Mi ...
's Kresge Library and professor at Oakland University.
History
In 1828, a territorial library was created containing laws and government documents for use by the territorial council, and William B. Hunt was appointed the territorial librarian. Nine years later, the former territorial library became the state library, and Governor Stevens T. Mason
Stevens Thomson Mason (October 27, 1811 – January 4, 1843) was an American politician who served as the first governor of Michigan from 1835 to 1840. Coming to political prominence at an early age, Mason was appointed his territory's ...
appointed Oren Marsh as the first state librarian.
In 1879, the state library moved to the new State Capitol
This is a list of state and territorial capitols in the United States, the building or complex of buildings from which the government of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia and the organized territories of the United States, exercise its ...
in Lansing. It was originally a two-story room on the second and third floor in the west wing. The space is now the Speaker's Library on the second floor and the House Appropriations Committee room on the third floor.
A fire in the State Office Building where the library was housed in 1951 destroyed 20,000 books and damaged 30,000 more.
Public Act 540 of 1982 created the Library of Michigan and transferred control of the library from the Department of Education to the Legislative Council.
Building
The Library of Michigan at 5 stories contains over 3.2 million different items that take up over of shelves. Opened in 1989, the Library of Michigan building also contains one of the ten largest genealogical
Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinsh ...
collections in the United States. Another feature is a Michigan collection containing legal materials that date back centuries.[2006 Greater Lansing Visitors Guide, page 14] Other features of the library and historical center include the Michigan Historical Museum, the Archives of Michigan, and newspapers on microfilm from papers all over the state. Also the State Law Library moved to the building in the summer of 2007.
See also
* MichiCard
References
External links
Official websiteMichigan eLibrary homepageSt. Ignace Michigan Public Library
{{coord, 42.73221, -84.56364, type:landmark_region:US-MI, display=title
1828 establishments in Michigan Territory
Buildings and structures in Lansing, Michigan
Education in Lansing, Michigan
History museums in Michigan
Libraries in Michigan
Library buildings completed in 1989
Museums in Lansing, Michigan
Michigan