FYI
Peggy Youngs
French-Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan List
_______________________________________________
Hello Folks,
Here is what is planned for the Michigan Historical Center and the Library
of Michigan. If you have not taken action yet, have not called, emailed, or
written a letter of protest, then you better do so now. We have to put more
pressure on Lansing politicians to not ruin the Library of Michigan.
And how in the hell is ruining the Library of Michigan, spending money to
move it, spending more money to renevate the building, etc., going to save
money during this budget crisis?
Lastly, keep in mind (unless there has been a recent change I am unaware
of), no librarians are being included in the committee coming up with these
plans.
JP
From Gongwer News Service -- August 17, 2009:
INNOVATION CENTER PLAN CALLED FOR SCHOOL AT MUSEUM
Creation of a new high school focused on mathematics and science at the
Michigan Historical Center, along with restructuring the center to focus on
science, state history and world cultures, were all part of an initial
report presented to Governor Jennifer
Granholm<http://www.gongwer.com/programming/bio.cfm?nameid=6701&lo...
possibilities for the state's library and museum.
The report also called for creating a business incubator in the center and
completely removing the state library and making it part of Michigan State
University's library system.
Even though the proposal is publicly available, through MSU's website, and
elements of the proposal have been discussed, there has been little
attention overall put on the total elements of the proposed project. The
proposal also does not outline anticipated costs for the project.
But the proposal also called for a major renovation of the building, which
would presumably remove the giant white pine in the center courtyard, to
redo the "silo-like" architecture of the building with a new center atrium
that would help expose visitors to the varied displays and learning areas.
The current architectural structure makes such an atrium a necessity, the
report said, to "promote the new mission of providing choices and
synergies."
The report on the Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention, was
prepared by MSU (along with the New Jersey consulting firm of Liberty
Science Center and the architecture firm Harvey, Ellis, Deveraux) and
presented to Ms. Granholm in May, approximately two full months before she
issued Executive Order 2009-36, which eliminates the Department of History,
Arts and Libraries and divides its functions between a number of different
departments. Ms. Granholm also announced that she would appoint a commission
for a new Center for Innovation and Reinvention.
In the report, a letter from MSU President Lou Anna Simon says the proposal
is not a final idea and will require more input from the public. But she
said the center would help ensure that the state is prepared for the
knowledge economy, enhance the state's ability to provide a welcoming
atmosphere to new companies and help improve the state's K-121 educational
system.
Under the report the major changes to the structure, such as opening the new
high school, would be completed in 2012.
The report does not, however, put a cost estimate to the tree removal,
renovations and reconstruction of the facility.
Seeking revenue sources is a major part of the report, however, and it
discusses having some governmental support, which would include funding for
the high school, as well as corporate support to help maintain the center.
The report also talks about ticketed exhibits and events at the center for
the general public. Admission now to the state museum (though there are
charges for parking) and the MSU museum are free; there is a $5 admission
for adults to the Impression 5 science center.
A spokesperson for Ms. Granholm could not be reached for comment on whether
she concurred with the overall vision of the report.
Under the proposal, the entire 5 million-piece collection of the state
library would be removed and housed at MSU in its current main library
building and an adjacent structure. The report says the consultants retained
for the project did not view the library collection as a "compliment to the
new mission."
So far, the most vocal opposition to the elimination of HAL and the changes
to the library and museum have come from library interests and genealogists,
worried that the changes will destroy access to the collection. Earlier this
month, protestors ringed the historical center.
Ms. Granholm's office has said that access to the state's collection is
important, and the report says, briefly, that access to the library's
collection must be maintained.
Under the proposal, along with the new center atrium, a new multipurpose
center would be built on the northwest section of the building.
Most of what now is the library area of the building would be converted into
the new high school.
The proposal also calls for construction of a new theatre, some 23,000
square feet of shops and dining, and restructured floors that feature
Michigan history as well as science and engineering displays.