Fellow Michigan Genealogists, Now is the hour! The economic situation in Michigan and America continues declining. Michigan's state departments are attempting to restructure, and legislators are working on new budget proposals with huge cuts. The rumor mill is lethal! As researchers we need to remember that a rumor is not primary or even secondary source information, but based on, like so much of our family information, probably a grain of fact which can be misinterpreted. At this time, there is a rather public rumor that one group is considering closing the Library of Michigan entirely, and emptying the west side of the History, Arts and Libraries building. The Library's collection might be offered to a "local university," obviously Michigan State University, which has never had a genealogy collection and is itself facing large cuts. Some form of legal and archival support for the Michigan government must be maintained by law, but its format is debatable. Now is the hour! All genealogists need to get into immediate contact with their local Senators and Representatives, emphasizing forcefully that the Library, even downsized severely, needs to be preserved. Make it plain to your legislator that you understand our state's fiscal situation, and that you are amenable to severe cuts, but that the statewide internet, inter-library loan, electronic support, are crucial to Michigan citizens and that you as a taxpayer feel they must be maintained in at least some format. Do it now! Do it often! Get several other society members to contact their legislators and keep track of which legislators have been contacted and their response, forwarding this information to MGC (Joanne Harvey <mailto:harveyfti@webtv.net> ). Your on-site research team is providing speakers for legislative committees and will be a presence there. On Thursday, March 12 there will be a Senate Appropriation Committee meeting and the subject is libraries. Please contact Senator Thomas George immediately at 517-373-2768 and show support for the Library. Fight for the Library of Michigan! Joanne Harvey, Research Access Chair Michigan Genealogical Council