From dulongj at habitant.org Fri Oct 1 17:05:24 2004 From: dulongj at habitant.org (John P. DuLong) Date: Fri Oct 1 17:04:35 2004 Subject: [BHC] Letter from Nancy Skowronski Concerning the DSGR Message-ID: Hello Folks, Pat Ibbotson, the editor of the well done and professional Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine, along with some other Advocates, attended the Detroit Library Commission meeting this week to protest the usage fee. Here is a copy of the letter she recently received with Ms. Skowronski's reaction to her protest: ********* Dear Ms. Ibbotson, On behalf of the Detroit Library Commission, I am responding to the letter you read today at the Commission meeting. I am sure I speak for the Friends of the Detroit Public Library as well as the Detroit Library Commission and administrative staff in saying thank you for the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research, Inc's past support of the Detroit Public Library Burton Historical Collection. As you know, the Detroit Public Library no longer receives any state funds to help subsidize the use of the Detroit Public Library's Main Library, the International Language Collection and the special collections. The very mission of the library system needed to be revised when state support was withdrawn. The $100 annual fee for non-resident borrowing privileges and the use of the special collections is still less that the average Detroit taxpayer pays in support of the Detroit Public Library. The introduction of a daily use fee of $10 to use the special collections has been very well received by occasional users. I wish we could continue to open our doors free of charge to anyone in Michigan but unfortunately we cannot. Again, thank you for DSGR's past support of the Library. Please be advised that DSGR can continue to support the Burton Historical Collection by donating to the Friends of the Burton Historical Collection. Sincerely, Nancy Skowronski Director and CEO ********* If any organization in the Detroit area has had a long term reciprocal relationship with the Detroit Public Library and has donated much to the Burton Historical Collection since the 1930s, it is the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research. You can see how much Ms. Skowronski values this relationship. Many public libraries work for years to develop good relationship with interest groups that will help it. But the Detroit Public Library is arrogantly ignoring its strongest supporters. It never consulted the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research about the usage fee, never asked for alternatives, never asked how it would affect the Burton Historical Collections most active support group. What a farce! I understand that this Detroit Library Commission meeting was run much like the others I have witnessed. A late start, no real discussions, canned reports, hasty votes, a short meeting, and a rapid departure. With management like this it is no wonder the library is in such trouble. By the way, I continue to get reports that usage of the Burton Historical Collection is way down. People who use the collection regularly tell me that they are often alone or just with a handful of other users present. Ironically, I do not need to use the Burton Historical Collection much for my research because most of my family lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin, but last week while doing some research in the Library of Michigan (an excellent well run collection), I learned that my grandmother lived in Detroit between 1900 and 1903 and attended the Detroit Conservatory of Music. Guess who has the records for this institution? You got it. So now I will have to join the rest of you forced to pay the daily usage fee. (I have a corporate Detroit Public Library card through work, but I refuse to use if for my personal research, why should I not suffer like the rest of you!) I just wish I had found out about this a few years or even months ago. Folks remember we have a donation boycott going, not a usage boycott. Please use the Burton Historical Collection, but complain about the fee and make sure they understand that you will not donate a dime to the library and will advise others to also boycott the library. Regards, JP John P. DuLong, Ph.D. Acadian and French Canadian Genealogy 959 Oxford Road Berkley, MI 48072-2011 USA (248) 541-2894 dulongj@habitant.org From dulongj at habitant.org Mon Oct 4 17:00:44 2004 From: dulongj at habitant.org (John P. DuLong) Date: Mon Oct 4 16:58:35 2004 Subject: [BHC] FW: access to Detroit Public Library's special collections Message-ID: Hello Folks, Another exception to the rule that non-Detroiters must pay. Please do not get me wrong, I am a Wayne State University graduate and love the place, but I do resent that the rules concerning the usage fee are not being applied fairly. Also, I really resent genealogists not being considered scholars. Certainly some genealogists are not serious researchers, but many are extremely professional and scholarly. JP -----Original Message----- From: Library Information Science Program Information [mailto:LISPINF@LISTS.WAYNE.EDU] On Behalf Of LIS Program Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 3:26 PM To: LISPINF@LISTS.WAYNE.EDU Subject: access to Detroit Public Library's special collections The Libraries have made a special arrangement with DPL so that non-Detroit resident WSU researchers can have access to Detroit Public Library's special collections, including the Burton Historical Collection. Although some details remain to be formalized, the agreement is effective immediately. Who is this service aimed at? Non-Detroit resident WSU researchers who have a legitimate need to use these collections for their WSU based research activities. Primarily, these would be faculty members. Who is this service NOT aimed at? All WSU students, including foreign students and graduate students, are eligible for full borrowing and use of special collections by virtue of being a student. They simply must show proof of being a current student. Likewise, any faculty or staff member who is a resident of Detroit is eligible for full privileges. Non-resident faculty who need access to the regular collections of DPL, but not the research collections (which are largely closed and/or non-circulating), should take advantage of our participation in Michicard, which can be picked up at any of the Access Desks in the libraries. What should staff do? If you become aware of a faculty member who is not a Detroit resident, but who needs to use these collections for his or her research, have that person contact by e-mail: Paul Beavers or Bradd Burningham We will be maintaining a "Scholar's List" to share with DPL, and will communicate with both DPL and the faculty member to arrange access. The faculty member will be given a DPL guest card, which will have to be renewed each year. I am a non-resident staff and I am working on my family tree. Can I get access? This program is confined to non-resident staff and faculty who need the collections for scholarly research at WSU. I am an Information Services Librarian. Can I tell the faculty in my subject areas about this? Certainly. This will be more germane for Faculty in some research areas than others. However, please emphasize the previous point. We will not be interrogating faculty about their research agendas. However, our agreement with DPL is dependant on a responsible approach to creating the "Scholar's List." Further questions can be directed to me. Thanks. Bradd Burningham Director, Access Services Wayne State University Library System Detroit, MI 48202-3939 voice: 313 577-0714 fax: 313 577-5265 BBurningham@wayne.edu From dulongj at habitant.org Thu Oct 21 17:54:53 2004 From: dulongj at habitant.org (John P. DuLong) Date: Thu Oct 21 17:52:41 2004 Subject: [BHC] Editorial about the Library Millages Message-ID: Hello Folks, Sorry I have not been posting lately, but I have been out of town and busy doing, would you believe it, genealogy. I thought I should let you know about the editorial in the Detroit News. To read the editorial, point your browser to http://www.detnews.com/2004/editorial/0410/13/a08-299432.htm Basically, the editorial supports the renewal of the old millage (Proposal L) but advises that the new millage (Proposal M) should be voted down. There is no mention made of the financial scandal. Regards, JP John P. DuLong, Ph.D. Acadian and French Canadian Genealogy 959 Oxford Road Berkley, MI 48072-2011 USA (248) 541-2894 dulongj@habitant.org From dulongj at habitant.org Sat Oct 23 10:55:03 2004 From: dulongj at habitant.org (John P. DuLong) Date: Sat Oct 23 10:52:45 2004 Subject: [BHC] Birmingham and Bloomfield Township Agreements with the Detroit Public Library Message-ID: Hello Folks, Sorry to take so long to get back to you all with the results of my last Freedom of Information Act request. You may recall that I asked for the cooperative agreements between the Detroit Public Library and the Baldwin (Birmingham) Public Library and Bloomfield Township Public Library. We already received the Baldwin response and learned that this long-term relationship was only signed on 29 July 2004, days before the usage fee was imposed. It should not surprise you to learn that the Bloomfield Township deal was not signed until 20 July 2004. However, the Bloomfield Township director also made clear to me that she has some paperwork going back to at least 1992 discussing a reciprocal library card arrangement with the Detroit Public Library. However, no formal agreement was signed until 20 July 2004, again, just days before the usage fee was imposed. Frankly, I do not understand the complex relationships between several public libraries in the Detroit area. However, I am fairly confident that there are many more Detroiters who use the public libraries adjacent to Detroit, like Southfield, Ferndale, the Grosse Pointes, etc., than the relatively remote Birmingham and Bloomfield Township libraries. How many of these libraries have informal relationships with the Detroit Public Library? It still looks very much to me as if two suburban libraries are getting special treatment. In the Detroit Library Commission meeting this week, Ms. Skowronski went into some detail about formalizing the long standing borrowing and access privileges with the Birmingham and Bloomfield Township libraries this summer. She mentioned that there had been over 100 Detroiters who had used those libraries and about the same from these suburbs who had used the Detroit Public Library since that agreement. Again, I wonder what the numbers would be for the other public libraries closer to Detroit? Also, I is interesting to note that at least one suburban library, Grosse Pointe Public Library, has raised its borrowing fee in retaliation to the move of the Detroit Public Library. Ms. Skowronski also mentioned in the same meeting that there has been 200 daily passes purchased at $10 to use the Special Collections since August. That would mean they have raised at least $2,000 with the fee. That is a drop in the bucket. Usage of the Burton is way down from all the reports I have received. Also, one wonders how much money they have lost in donations since August. This usage fee is still very much penny wise and pound foolish. I want to thank Mary Lou Duncan for attending the Detroit Library Commission meetings and keeping an eye out for our interests. Regards, JP John P. DuLong, Ph.D. Acadian and French Canadian Genealogy 959 Oxford Road Berkley, MI 48072-2011 USA (248) 541-2894 dulongj@habitant.org From ChristieTrapp at aol.com Sun Oct 24 10:08:55 2004 From: ChristieTrapp at aol.com (ChristieTrapp@aol.com) Date: Sun Oct 24 10:09:36 2004 Subject: [BHC] Birmingham and Bloomfield Township Agreements with the Detroit Publ... Message-ID: <128.4e7a46a3.2ead3ba7@aol.com> <> John: You say that this is just a drop in the bucket, but add it up. If they imposed this fee in August and the meeting was in September they made $2,000 in one month. If you multiply using the 200 as the monthly number of people who pay the $10 daily fee times 12 and then multiply $10 you end up with $24,000 a year just on those numbers. Some months, of course, will be more than 200 people and some months less. But just for argument sake that they consistently have 200 people a month pay that fee, that is a sizable chuck of change. Now the question is, what are they going to do with that initial $2,000 and what would they do with the $24,000 if this pans out for a year from now? How are we going to keep track of these fees to make sure they go to the Burton as the library claims the fee is imposed for using this aspect of the library? Has anyone given that a thought so that we can keep the library honest about what they did with this month? I just hope it doesn't end up in the "general fund" and not into the correct account? Any thoughts on this? Christie Trapp -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/bhc_habitant.org/attachments/20041024/46264880/attachment.htm From dunn at bright.net Sun Oct 24 10:37:51 2004 From: dunn at bright.net (Michael and Carol Dunn) Date: Sun Oct 24 10:38:14 2004 Subject: [BHC] Burton Bequest References: <128.4e7a46a3.2ead3ba7@aol.com> Message-ID: <005b01c4b9f0$3265abb0$de1a8fd1@Michael> How much is the Burton bequest? Just wondering. Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: ChristieTrapp@aol.com To: dulongj@habitant.org ; bhc@habitant.org Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2004 1:08 PM Subject: Re: [BHC] Birmingham and Bloomfield Township Agreements with theDetroit Publ... Burton Historical Collection List _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <> John: You say that this is just a drop in the bucket, but add it up. If they imposed this fee in August and the meeting was in September they made $2,000 in one month. If you multiply using the 200 as the monthly number of people who pay the $10 daily fee times 12 and then multiply $10 you end up with $24,000 a year just on those numbers. Some months, of course, will be more than 200 people and some months less. But just for argument sake that they consistently have 200 people a month pay that fee, that is a sizable chuck of change. Now the question is, what are they going to do with that initial $2,000 and what would they do with the $24,000 if this pans out for a year from now? How are we going to keep track of these fees to make sure they go to the Burton as the library claims the fee is imposed for using this aspect of the library? Has anyone given that a thought so that we can keep the library honest about what they did with this month? I just hope it doesn't end up in the "general fund" and not into the correct account? Any thoughts on this? Christie Trapp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ BHC mailing list BHC@habitant.org http://habitant.org/mailman/listinfo/bhc_habitant.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/bhc_habitant.org/attachments/20041024/8b1e9004/attachment.htm From dulongj at habitant.org Sun Oct 24 17:25:56 2004 From: dulongj at habitant.org (John P. DuLong) Date: Sun Oct 24 17:23:55 2004 Subject: [BHC] Skowronski Confusing the Issues Message-ID: Hello All, I want to share some communications that were given to me. If you read through them, then you will find that Ms. Skowronski misrepresents the fees other libraries charge and tries to mislead people into thinking that a usage fee on special collections is normal. It clearly is not. I want to thank Mary Lou Duncan for sharing these messages. ********* FIRST LETTER: September 24, 2004 Detroit Public Library Commissioners Detroit Public library 5201 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan To the Commissioners: I have been a researcher in the Burton Collection of the DPL since 1972. During my many hours of research in the Burton Historical Collection, I have compiled some detailed ?Finding Aids? for various manuscript collections. When completed, copies were given to the Burton Collection. They have proven beneficial for the library staff and patrons. Since the ill-advised implementation of a fee for using the materials in the Burton Collection, I have not been able to continue this research. My offer to serve as a volunteer was declined, as no new volunteers are allowed by the administration. As far as I know, DPL is the only PUBLIC library in the United States to discriminate against a particular segment of the population by installing a USAGE fee for certain special collections (as contrasted with a borrowing fee). Allowing Birmingham residents to use their library cards for free access to the three ?Special Collections? due to a ?long standing agreement?, that actually was signed July 29, 2004, smacks of catering to a privileged group. Has not the recognition of the ?Michicard? designation been in existence far longer than the previously mentioned agreement? Recognizing the Michicard EXCEPT for use in the three special collections discriminates against citizens due to their residency outside of the city of Detroit (and outside of Birmingham). I have donated to the Burton Collection and the Friends of the Detroit Public Library for many years. Initiation of a fee for full usage of the special collections is, in my opinion, a blatant discriminatory slap against those who have supported the library with their money, time, and energies but who do not happen to live within the Detroit city limits. It smacks of vindictiveness directed against citizens because the legislature chose not to include monetary support for the DPL in the new state budget. It costs no more for a librarian to send down a call slip for a non-resident than it does for a resident. Contrary to published reasons for charging the fee, the Burton librarians usually do not have to provide ?in depth? research for patrons. Explaining the fees now takes up much more of their time. The librarians? code of ethics (American Library Association) states: We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests. The new discriminative access fee policy contradicts the librarians? code of ethics concerning equitable access and service policies. The implementation of a fee for full use of the special collections may be due to the present administration?s feeling that special collections do not fit their agenda for a ?public library.? I hope not. It is my feeling that this will lead to the future permanent closure of those collections when it is proven to the satisfaction of the administration that usage has declined because patrons are not paying the fee to access the collections. What a terrible, terrible legacy that would be! A system of voluntary donations to the special collections would help support them and also be tax deductible. It would be a better choice than the current one, which now alienates longtime supporters of the DPL. Respectfully, Mary Lou Duncan Grosse Pointe, MI ********** The following letter was sent from Ms. Skowronski, the Director of the Detroit Public Library, to Mary Lou Duncan after the latter addressed her concerns about the usage fee at a meeting of the Detroit Public Library. The letter was sent some time before 5 October 2004. SECOND LETTER: "Dear Ms. Duncan: On behalf of the Detroit Library Commission, I am responding to the letter you read at the September 28, 2004 Library Commission meeting. You mad several comments that I will address. Library Volunteers. You stated, "no new volunteers are allowed by administration". I frankly don't know how to respond to this. "Administration" does not recruit volunteers. All volunteers work under the auspices of the Friends of the Detroit Public Library. If you are interested in volunteering in the Burton Historical Collection please contact Patrice Merritt, Executive Director of the Friends of Detroit Public library, at 833-4047. DPL's Usage Fee. Access to the Special Collections is free. The policy is not discriminatory. Many non-resident customers are taking advantage of the $10 daily usage fee if they need to engage the services of library staff. By the way, the Grand Rapids Library also has special collections. That library charges a $25 fee/hour to use them. For your information, that library charged for the use of the collections even while receiving state equity funding - while Detroit Public Library opened its doors for free. Michicard. Michicard is a voluntary program that permits borrowing among Michicard participating libraries. Of the 380+ libraries in Michigan close to 300 participate in the Michicard program. DPL has always been a member of Michicard because it benefits our customers. Bloomfield Township Public Library and Birmingham Public Library are not Michicard libraries. That decision is their choice. Many years ago they established a reciprocal borrowing agreement with Detroit Public Library. They should be commended - not criticized- for doing so. While DPL was expected to open its doors to everyone in the state of Michigan, very few libraries reciprocated by opening their doors to Detroiters. Both Birmingham and Bloomfield Township did so. When the Library began charging a fee for non-residents, I met with both directors to reaffirm this long-standing commitment that benefits several hundred Detroit residents who use those libraries. Please note that your own public library does not participate in the Michicard program and charges a $100 fee to borrow materials - just as DPL does now. Present Administrations Feeling That Special Collections Do Not Fit Their Agendas for a "public library". The special collections are part of what makes the Detroit Public library unique in this state. Finally you stated that a voluntary donation to the special collections would help support them and also be a tax deduction. I am sure that you are aware that this option already exists. Friend of the Detroit Public Library is a 501C3, tax-exempt organization. On behalf of the Library Commission and the administration thank you for your past support of the Burton Collection. Respectfully, Nancy Skowronski Director and CEO " NOTE: See how Ms. Skowronski misleads you by suggesting that the Grand Rapids Public Library has a $25 an hour usage fee to use the genealogical collection. This is NOT true. Mary Lou Duncan made contact with official at the Grand Rapids Public Library to verify that this was not the case. The fee is for special in-depth research that the staff conducts when people do not want to come and use the library in person. ********* THIRD LETTER: October 5, 2004 Ms. Duncan: I need to correct some information in my October 1, 2004 letter to you regarding the Grand Rapids Public Library special collections. The Grand Rapids Public Library does indeed have some special collections - and at least one that is available by appointment only. There is no charge to access these collections - however research work by their staff is charged at $25/hour. Just wanted to set the written record straight. Sincerely, Nancy Skowronski Director and CEO NOTE: Now Ms. Skowronski, who was probably corrected by a Grand Rapids Public Library official, sets the record straight. ********* Here is Mary Lou Duncan's response to Ms. Skowronski. I think you will find it an eloquent rebuttal. FOURTH LETTER: October 7, 2004 Ms. Nancy Skowronski Director and CEO Detroit Public Library 5201 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48202 Dear Ms. Skowronski, Thank you for your response to the letter that I read at the beginning of the meeting of the Detroit Library Commission on Tuesday, September 28, 2004. I realize that it is written on behalf of the Detroit Library Commission, at the request of the president, Ms. Karen DiChiera. You divided your letter into responses to four concerns that I had addressed in my letter, so I shall do the same. Library Volunteers: I stated that no new volunteers are allowed by the administration. You said that all volunteers work under the auspices of the Friends of the Library. I know several volunteers who work in the Burton Collection and have for some time. I did not realize that they might originally have been placed by the Friends of the Library. I filled out a sheet, given to me by the head of the Burton Collection, Mr. David Poremba, volunteering to work in the collection. This was filled out prior to August 1, 2004. I had hoped that I might then be able to finish my indexing of one of the books of the Detroit Police Department?s ?Applications to the Force?. This has never been indexed. The completed index would then be added to their finding aids to join the index I gave them of the companion book of applications. After a few weeks, I inquired about my application and was given the information that new volunteers were not being allowed. DPL?s Usage Fee. I felt - and still feel - that barring nonresidents from full usage of the special collections of DPL is discriminatory. When the fee was hastily put in place, the librarians were not supposed to answer any questions from patrons unless the patron showed them a new library card, proved Detroit residency, or showed a Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, or Highland Park library card. I had several calls from irate citizens of Michigan who felt that they were being discriminated against due to their ethnicity. I explained the new policy and assured them that the response was due to the new library policy. I realize that the policy has been ?softened? and relaxed enough to allow patrons to walk in to Burton and use what is in the room ( a small part of the collection) as long as they do not have to ask a librarian or staff member to send down a call slip. However, all ?Reading Room Files?, the envelopes that contain obituaries clipped from area newspapers, require a call slip as they are not held in the room. I reiterate: sending down a call slip does not require any verbal interchange with a librarian nor does it require any more effort to do so for a nonresident than it does for a resident. You stated in your letter of 1 October 2004, ?By the way, the Grand Rapids Public Library also has special collections. That library charges a $25/hour fee to use them. For your information, that Library charged for use of the collections even while receiving state equity funding - while Detroit Public Library opened its doors for free.? Upon receipt of your letter, I checked the Grand Rapids Public Library web site. Although it wasn?t expressly clear, it seemed to indicate that the fee was for in depth research done by Grand Rapids Library staff for those who did not come into the library in person. To verify that information, I telephoned the Grand Rapids Public Library and talked to a librarian in the Local History department. She kindly and pleasantly informed me that full access to ALL of their special collections was free, and that my information from you was erroneous. I asked if I could quote her answer, and she asked if I would like to speak to the head of the department. I did that. Mr. Vettese, Manager of the Local History Department, Grand Rapids Public Library was equally as pleasant. I told him what you had written. His answer was, ?That is totally wrong.? He stated that their library does not charge for anyone to use their collection nor have they ever made such a charge. He also said that I could quote him, giving his name and his position. I was going to send him a copy of your letter. Today I received a letter from you that corrected your previous statement. I have to assume that someone from the Grand Rapids Public Library contacted you after my phone call so that you would no longer pass on that false information. It would seem as if such information would be verified before stating it as a fact as you did in your first letter. In your second letter you stated, ?I need to correct some information in my October 1, 2004 letter to you regarding the Grand Rapids Public Library special collections. The Grand Rapids Public library does indeed have some special collections - and at least one that is available by appointment only. There is no charge to access these collections - however research work by their staff is charged at $25/hour. Just wanted to set the record straight.? The research charge of $25 an hour by the Grand Rapids Public Library applies to research work done for those who are unable to do on site research in person. It does NOT apply to patrons who wish to use the resources of the special collections in person. Genealogical questions are handled by the Western Michigan Genealogical Society for a fee of $15 per hour of research. Indexed obituaries are $5 each. All of these fees apply ONLY for those who cannot get to the library to do their research. Michicard. You stated, ?Michicard is a voluntary program that permits borrowing among Michicard participating libraries.? I realize that. So are the Bloomfield Township Public Library and the Birmingham Public Library cards. They permit the borrowing of materials from their library and also from the DPL. You stated: ?Many years ago they established a reciprocal borrowing agreement with the Detroit Public Library.? Does not the Michicard give reciprocal borrowing rights to the patrons of those libraries who participate? Why is that any different - so that they are barred from full on site ACCESS to the special collections while the Birmingham and Bloomfield Township Library card holders may access them without a charge? Detroit Public Library card holders can ACCESS any of the suburban public libraries WITHOUT paying a fee. Many citizens, and possibly, I am afraid, some of the Detroit Library Commission members, do not differentiate between a BORROWING fee for taking library materials home ( a library card fee) and an ACCESS fee - looking at materials while in the library building. The DPL has every right to charge for the privilege of a nonresident to obtain a DPL library card to BORROW materials. You also stated, ?Please note that your library does not participate in the Michicard program and charges a $100 fee to borrow materials - just as the DPL does now.? My questions to you did not concern what my local library does or does not do. As with the lawyers, if the lawyer cannot defend his client, the lawyer attacks the other side. I do know, for a fact, that the Grosse Pointe Library did not raise their nonresident fee to $100 until the DPL did so. It was verified by a member of the Grosse Pointe Library Commission that the raise in fee to $100 was done directly in response to the raising of the fee for a card by DPL. Present Administrations Feeling That Special Collections Do Not Fit Their Agendas for a ?public library?. You stated in your letter: ?The special collections are part of what makes the Detroit Public Library unique in this state.? This statement neither confirms or denies my suspicions. Perhaps you did not wish to make your position any clearer at this time. I had also said that a voluntary donation to the special collections would help support them and also be a tax deduction. You stated in your letter: ? I am sure that you are aware that this option already exists. Friends of the Detroit Public Library is a 501C3, tax exempt organization.? I am very much aware of that. I am also aware that a donation of $150 would allow me to obtain a DPL card. However, I am also aware that if I did, $100 would be payable to the library for the card and Friends of the Library would have to reimburse the library $100 of the $150 donation, leaving just $50 as a donation to Friends. A two minute ?reading? before the meeting of the Detroit Public Library Commission does not allow more than a cursory presentation of concerns - rather hurriedly, at that. Some of us had thought that a box for voluntary donations on or by the desk in the Burton Collection would be much better received than the strict imposition of a full usage fee, as has been put into effect. A one time user, or for that matter a regular user of the Burton Collection, would be much more liable to add a few dollars to a collection box than he or she would be to hunt up the offices of the Friends of the Library or find the address of the Friends to send in a donation. Such a box was used for at least several years at the Detroit Art Institute. Affixed to the glass box was a sign designating a ?suggested? donation. During the times I entered the collection, I did not see any people ignoring the box. I still do not know of any PUBLIC library in the United States that charges a fee for ACCESSING parts of their library. Do you wish to go down in history as the first one? Because the access fee has been imposed on nonresidents to pay the upkeep costs of the Burton Collection (and other special collections) , will the amount specifically collected for access to the Burton Collection be kept separate and used for the upkeep of this collection and not added to the general library funds? I have been in the collection recently. The number of users has fallen drastically since the fee was put in place. I understand that the ?Sons of the American Revolution? feel that their original agreement with the library has been abrogated and are trying to find out about removing their donation of materials. Others feel the same way, specifically the DAR. We have all tried to enhance the Burton Collection with gifts of time, money, and materials. We have been so proud of the collection and what it means not only to the city of Detroit but also to those who seek to learn from its treasures. The DPL system faces difficult times, but in such times encouraging and enlisting the support of long time users of the collection, rather than alienating them, would seem the best way to go. I understand that the imposition of a higher nonresident library card fee may have been necessary as a way to increase library income. Also I can understand that creating a USAGE fee for the Burton Collection for nonresidents and, as originally announced, ?banning? access to the Burton Collection by nonresidents unless they paid $100, was intended to pressure the state legislature into including funding for the DPL. It was not successful. Many of us may not agree with the amount of increase in the library card fee for nonresidents, but we do understand it. What we do NOT understand is imposing an ACCESS fee in a public library to collections that have been created to be readily accessible to the public and enriched by the donations of hundreds of nonresidents over many years. Now those same people have to pay to look at the material that they, or the organizations to which they belong, donated to the Burton Collection. I began to attend the Detroit Library Commission meetings when the Burton Collection was arbitrarily closed ?for inventory? by the previous DPL administration during the tricentennial year. Each time that I have spoken during the public comments before the commission, it was because I felt strongly that decisions were being made to the detriment of the library?s reputation and best interests. I was raised in Detroit schools and learned to love libraries and the books they contained. Even though I dislike public speaking, I cannot be silent when I see the Burton Collection lose donations of historical and genealogical material that could further enhance the collection. The original edict ($100 fee to enter the Burton Collection and no answers from a librarian without it) was put into place without much thought of its ramifications. Since then, it was decided that one time users could instead pay $10 per day. Then physical access to the collection was allowed, but a fee was still required to ask the librarian a question. Now one may use the computer in the collection without paying the fee, probably because the newer book catalog is on the computer. Guided tours of the collection are allowed. Each of these changes has seemed to follow the posting of a question on the Burton Advocates? list. I sincerely hope that the coming millage votes pass. I also fervently pray that in the near future you will reconsider, and the commissioners will fully support, a decision to open the Burton Collection and other special collections once again to full access by nonresidents and residents alike. A public library should BE public - open to all. Let ALL researchers have equal access to the special collections. Sincerely yours, Mary Lou Duncan cc: Detroit Library Commission members ********* We will have to keep an eye on her and make sure she does not try to mislead others. She consistently confusing borrowing and access fees when she responds to public concerns. To my knowledge, there is NO PUBLIC library in the USA or Canada that has a fee to access a PUBLIC collection. I know of several PRIVATE libraries that have such usage fees, but they are few and far between. Regards, JP John P. DuLong, Ph.D. Acadian and French Canadian Genealogy 959 Oxford Road Berkley, MI 48072-2011 USA (248) 541-2894 dulongj@habitant.org From dulongj at habitant.org Sun Oct 24 17:36:05 2004 From: dulongj at habitant.org (John P. DuLong) Date: Sun Oct 24 17:33:59 2004 Subject: [BHC] WDET Story About the Library Message-ID: Hello Folks, Apparently, WDET 101.9FM will have a short story about the Burton Historical Collection and the Detroit Public Library on that will air between 6:30am and 8:30am Wednesday 27 October 2004. I suspect it will mostly discuss the upcoming millage. Just thought you might want to know. JP John P. DuLong, Ph.D. Acadian and French Canadian Genealogy 959 Oxford Road Berkley, MI 48072-2011 USA (248) 541-2894 dulongj@habitant.org