Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Help Save Michigan Libraries

The Michigan Senate recently passed a budget that includes a proposed 25% cut in state-wide library funding from $10 million to $7.5 million. This cut would be devastating to Michigan libraries, including Marygrove. What is at stake for us is the potential loss of important research databases like Academic OneFile, WilsonSelectPlus, ERIC, and Social Science Abstracts to name a few, plus access to more than 2,700 full-text periodicals. Furthermore, our plans this year to join the statewide interlibrary loan group, MeLCat, may be jeopardized since this cut in funding would likely cripple the system, depriving library users of fast, easy access to collections across the state.

The millions of citizens who rely on Michigan public libraries and Michigan eLibrary (MeL) resources for small business information, education, and job searching will be hurt the most by this cut in funding, which represents just a tiny fraction of the state’s $2.8 billion projected budget shortfall.

Visit http://www.milibrariesforthefuture.com/ for more info or to take action now.

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