Many of our patrons know that aside from working here at Lincoln Township Public Library, I also do a lot of writing outside of work. Earlier this year, I signed my first professional book deal. Writing this book has required me to do a lot of research from many different sources, and that’s why having a card from the Library of Michigan has been a lifesaver.
How to Get a Card
In case you are not aware, all Michigan residents can get a Library of Michigan card and take advantage of their services. Out of state residents who are attending a Michigan college or university are also eligible. You can apply in person in Lansing to check out materials in their collection, but you can also apply from anywhere for an eCard. Click here to get started.
The above link provides the information you need to know, as well as a form towards the bottom to fill out to apply for an eCard. It took a couple of days for them to review my application, but once it was accepted, I got an email with a link to sign in. They’ll provide you with a barcode number, and you’ll need to create a password. You’ll need those two things to sign in each time after that.
Using Online Resources
Your Library of Michigan eCard will provide access to informational databases, including Newspapers.com World Collection. I have used this database to find hundreds of newspaper articles that have been critical in conducting my research. Without them, this project would not have even been possible.
The Newspapers.com World Collection provides access to archives from hundreds of newspapers in the United States and beyond. You can search for a specific person or phrase and narrow the search by date. You can also narrow your results by location, getting as general as “California” or as specific as “Oakland,” for example. Or, you can browse through editions of specific titles. Though you don’t have to have a Newspapers.com account to view the articles, creating an account allows you to set up a profile and clip and save articles.
There are other great digital resources available as well, such as:
- Individual databases for many Michigan newspapers, such as Detroit News, Kalamazoo Gazette, and Lansing State Journal
- Black Life in America, offering historical media coverage of important African American people and events
- Digital Sanborn Maps, with a large collection of historical Michigan maps
- EBookCentral, with a large collection of books to view online
- Other databases with scholarly articles on many topics
Don’t Forget About MeL, either!
The Michigan eLibrary at MeL.org also provides great digital resources, but the Library of Michigan expands those even further. Check out both websites to see what’s available to help you. And don’t forget about interlibrary loan through MeL; getting books from other libraries has been a lifesaver for me too!
