I have to agree with Renee. If the options are paying or losing Burton...I'm all for paying. They have historical books about may different states which makes it an ideal location for family history research. MJ in MI >From: "Renee O." <renee@pconline.com> >To: MIOAKLAN-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [MIOAKLAN] Fw: Fees for the Burton >Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 20:43:09 -0400 > >I'm glad someone is at least contacting the library before going nuts on >writing >congressmen, newspapers, etc! When I read this, my tone sounds harsh, >but I >certainly don't mean to come off harsh, just want to make a point that we >are >not owed the right to use the library, not even if we pay state taxes. > >Right now, the fees are to borrow books only, and that does not include the >main >library, where Burton is located, because that is a State owned library and >not >a city library. > >Please check out the Detroit Public Library website: > >www.detroitpubliclibrary.org > >The fee is $40 for a non resident to borrow books, (not to use the library) >for >one year, and the Burton collection is not included in this fee for two >reasons. > >1. You cannot, nor could you ever, borrow materials from Burton. You have >to >use the materials there. The fee is to BORROW books. > >2. Burton is at the Detroit Main Library, which is a state run library and >is >still free for all residents of the State of Michigan. > >Where was all this publicity last year when the DPL had it posted on their >website that they needed help because the state was proposing to cut their >funding by millions. The funds were already cut, last year. It is a bit >late >to be complaining now. > >The Detroit Public Library is a CITY library and not a STATE or COUNTY >library >(with the exception of the Main Library where Burton is located) and it is >primarily funded by DETROIT CITY or DETROIT property taxes. That means >that if >you do not live or work in Detroit, then you are not paying for this >library and >do not have the right to check out books for free, or even use it for free, >for >that matter. > >I wonder why there are so many people who believe they have a right to use >a >city library for free if they are not a resident of the city. I would not >try >to go to an Ohio library, when I live in Michigan and try to check out >books, >although I may want to do research there. > >Also, the site says that 'Friends of Detroit Library members' do not pay. >I >believe that includes those who have donated items, but am not sure. > >Maybe we should get more information before going nuts with this. >Everything in >the newspaper is not always accurate. Last year the newspaper said that >the DPL >was considering charging $5 to non residents just to enter and use the >library, >beginning January 1, 2004. That did not ever happen, but was being >considered. >I suspect that they wrote about the worst case being considered and not the >final plan. > >Even if this is accurate and is going to happen, the alternative is closing >many >libraries, maybe even the main library and the Burton Collection. They >have >already closed some branches. Where is the money supposed to come from? >Yes, >the furniture and materials have been donated to Burton, but the staff, >electricity, building maintenance, equipment maintenance, I could go on and >on, >still cost money. Maybe the solution is to come up with a Burton fund >that >would pay for all this for the Burton collection. > >Renee O'Neal > > > > >==== MIOAKLAN Mailing List ==== >You can contact the listowner at Judy@BirdGenealogy.org > >============================== >Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration >Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > _________________________________________________________________ MSN Toolbar provides one-click access to Hotmail from any Web page – FREE download! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200413ave/direct/01/