MichiCard
Encyclopedia
MichiCard is a voluntary program between Michigan
libraries that was the first steps in developing a statewide library card for the residents of Michigan. The program was proposed and established by the Library of Michigan
Board of Trustees' Task Force on Interdependency and Funding. This led the Michigan state legislature to approve funding in 1989 for the MichiCard program. The program was established as a universal program for statewide access to the large network of resources throughout the state in local libraries where residents from another community may not be able access theses resources otherwise. The program is coordinated by the Library of Michigan. The program is a form of interlibrary loan
which allows the patron to visit another library and check out material directly from another library in another community from which they live.
sued the Bloomfield Township
public library after the agreement. He wanted to allow residents of the city to use the township library after the two governments could not agree on a cost-sharing price . The person who was subject of the lawsuit was George Goldstone.
Toohey took the argument to the Michigan Supreme Court
. He attempted to argue that the Michigan Constitution
stated that libraries should grant "access" to all residents of the state. In the past this access has been to allow a person to use or access any material on in the library, without any rights to check out material.
The Michigan Supreme Court agreed to hear the case and heard arguments on April 10, 2007, and issued their ruling on July 26, 2007, in the case of George H. Goldstone v Bloomfield Township Public Library. The court ruled that "we granted leave to appeal to consider whether Const 1963, art 8, § 9, which states that public libraries 'shall be available to all residents of the state,' requires each individual public library facility in Michigan to offer nonresident book-borrowing privileges. The lower courts answered this question in the negative, and we agree, although for different reasons. Therefore, we affirm."
This ruling called the MichiCard program into question.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
libraries that was the first steps in developing a statewide library card for the residents of Michigan. The program was proposed and established by the Library of Michigan
Library of Michigan
The Library of Michigan and Historical Center is a state-run library and historical center located in Lansing, Michigan. The current building opened in 1989....
Board of Trustees' Task Force on Interdependency and Funding. This led the Michigan state legislature to approve funding in 1989 for the MichiCard program. The program was established as a universal program for statewide access to the large network of resources throughout the state in local libraries where residents from another community may not be able access theses resources otherwise. The program is coordinated by the Library of Michigan. The program is a form of interlibrary loan
Interlibrary loan
Interlibrary loan is a service whereby a user of one library can borrow books or receive photocopies of documents that are owned by another library...
which allows the patron to visit another library and check out material directly from another library in another community from which they live.
Current program
Currently there are 306 libraries and 205 branches that are current members which are part of the MichiCard system .History
The program started in 1990. From 1990 to 1993 only public libraries were allowed to be part of the Michicard system. In 1994 the program was extended to allow academic libraries to become members of the programs. Then the program was opened to all libraries in the state of Michigan.Problems
Some people have suggested that this program is a form of tax evasion as it allows communities not to build resources and burdens other communities by adding to the number of patrons the other libraries have to serve. This came to a head when a resident and attorney; Robert Toohey, of the City of Bloomfield Hills, MichiganBloomfield Hills, Michigan
Bloomfield Hills is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan, northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,869...
sued the Bloomfield Township
Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan
Bloomfield Charter Township, known officially as The Charter Township of Bloomfield, is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 41,070....
public library after the agreement. He wanted to allow residents of the city to use the township library after the two governments could not agree on a cost-sharing price . The person who was subject of the lawsuit was George Goldstone.
Toohey took the argument to the Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
. He attempted to argue that the Michigan Constitution
Michigan Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U.S. state of Michigan. It describes the structure and function of the state's government....
stated that libraries should grant "access" to all residents of the state. In the past this access has been to allow a person to use or access any material on in the library, without any rights to check out material.
The Michigan Supreme Court agreed to hear the case and heard arguments on April 10, 2007, and issued their ruling on July 26, 2007, in the case of George H. Goldstone v Bloomfield Township Public Library. The court ruled that "we granted leave to appeal to consider whether Const 1963, art 8, § 9, which states that public libraries 'shall be available to all residents of the state,' requires each individual public library facility in Michigan to offer nonresident book-borrowing privileges. The lower courts answered this question in the negative, and we agree, although for different reasons. Therefore, we affirm."
This ruling called the MichiCard program into question.