June 29, 2004

Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL) Director Dr. William Anderson today announced the free, public availability of the Michigan County Histories and Atlases online collection, an assortment of books fundamental to local-history and genealogical research.  Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Library of Michigan, Michigan's Council of Library Directors (COLD) and the Michigan Library Consortium, the collection is available at no charge through the Michigan eLibrary (www.mel.org) and at: http://www.hti.umich.edu/m/micounty.

The Michigan County Histories and Atlases online collection is projected to provide access to 192 histories and 169 atlases dating from 1866 to 1926.  There are 146 histories (in 172 volumes) currently online.  The collection offers keyword and page-by-page access to digitized reproductions of Michigan county histories (and eventually atlases) as a resource for historical and genealogical research.

"A partnership like this proves that, even in lean economic times, leaders in education and cultural arts can come together to produce a resource that exists solely to meet our residents' needs," said Dr. Anderson.  "The organizations that contributed to this effort - especially the Council of Library Directors - should be commended for their forward thinking."

"This is a powerful tool for historians and genealogists at all experience levels," said State Librarian Christie Pearson Brandau.  "We cannot underestimate how the digitization of collections like this is going to revolutionize the way people conduct research."

Initial collection content comprises titles selected from Frances Loomis's Michigan Biography Index (Detroit: Detroit Public Library, 1946), Bentley Historical Library holdings, and the Research Publications microfilm publication County and Regional Histories of the Old Northwest.  Additional content selected from titles listed in Michigan Atlases and Plat Books by William Miles (Lansing: State Library Services, 1975) will be added as funds permit.

The Michigan County Histories collection is fully searchable and freely available to the public.  The digitization project was conceived by the Michigan Council of Library Directors as a service to the citizens of the State of Michigan in 2003 and is being managed by the University Library at the University of Michigan.  Work continues on the collection; more histories and the atlases will be added over the 2004-2005 period.  The Library of Michigan, the Michigan Council of Library Directors and the Michigan Library Consortium each contributed significant time or funding resources to this project.

COLD is composed of the library directors of the following institutions, all of whom have contributed time and funds toward this project:  University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Central Michigan University, Grand, Valley State, Eastern Michigan University, Western Michigan University, Michigan Tech, Ferris State, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Oakland University, Northern Michigan University, University of Michigan-Flint, Lake Superior State University and Saginaw Valley State University.

The Library of Michigan is part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).   Dedicated to enriching the quality of life for Michigan residents by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, HAL also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Historical Center.  For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

The Michigan Library Consortium is a non-profit membership organization comprised of all types of libraries in Michigan.  A convenient, single point of contact for training, support and group purchasing of library products and services, MLC saves member libraries time and money.  For more information, visit www.mlc.lib.mi.us.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.