New Furniture, 2022 Michigan History Conference recap, and 1879 Harper's Weekly feature
 New
Furniture at the Library of Michigan
Visitors to the Library of Michigan will discover a few new changes within the Library's facility in Lansing. Over the last few weeks
new tables and chairs have been installed in the atrium as well as throughout other floors in the library. The new atrium tables all come equipped with hideaway power modules that offer both electrical outlets and USB charging options - necessary resources
for the modern-day researcher!
Additionally, visitors will still see the iconic blue lamps that have always been a part of the Library's atrium since the Michigan Library
and Historical Center was constructed. The Library of Michigan is grateful for the work of the DTMB
Facilities staff in making this project happen.
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New tables and chairs at the Library of Michigan
Library of Michigan at the 2022 Michigan History Conference
Several staff from the Library of Michigan attended the
2022 Michigan History Conference on September 24, 2022 at Albion College. This was the first in-person conference by the Historical Society of Michigan since 2019 and it was great connecting with attendees face-to-face.
Digitization Librarian Jennifer Sasota, Reference Librarian Matt Pacer, and Community Engagement Librarian Adam Oster all spent time meeting with fellow Michigan history researchers and showcasing the services of the Library of Michigan at the Library's exhibit
table. Oster also presented 2 sessions during the conference:
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Struggling to Survive: Michigan County Poor Farms
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Workshop: Using Digital Resources at the Library of Michigan
State
Librarian Randy Riley was also on hand to honor 2021
Michigan Author Award recipient Larry Massie during the conference's morning activities. Limitations due to COVID had prevented the Library of Michigan from honoring Massie when the award was initially announced at the
beginning of the year. The Library is grateful to the
Historical Society of Michigan for the opportunity to celebrate Massie at this year’s conference as well as for putting on a top-notch event. We look forward to the
2023 Michigan in Perspective: Local History Conference coming up in Novi on March 24-25, 2023!
Library of Michigan staff and 2021 Michigan Author Award recipient Larry Massie at the 2022 Michigan History Conference
Blast from the past: Library of Michigan in Harper's Weekly
Soon after the new
Michigan State Capitol building was formally opened on January 1, 1879, Harper's Weekly featured the new Capitol in a full-page spread complete with several illustrations in the magazine's February 15, 1879 issue. The
illustrations included the exterior of the building as well as many interior rooms - most importantly, an image of the State Library! Prior to this point, the State Library had spent several years (1871-1879) on the third floor of the old State Block building
throughout the construction of the new capitol building. The space in the Capitol served as the library's primary home until the bulk of the collection was transferred in 1922 to the State Office Building (now called the Elliott-Larsen Building) at the corner
of South Walnut and Kalamazoo Streets. Law Library staff and collections remained at the Capitol until 1969.
Interested in learning more about the Library of Michigan from this time period? Be sure to stop by the Library and see "The Transformative
Harriet Tenney" exhibit currently on display featuring former State Librarian Harriet Tenney.
State Library featured in the February 15, 1879 issue of Harper's Weekly
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