ESCANABA - Locally, it's wait and see how Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget proposal will impact the Escanaba Public Library along with Fayette State Park's museum and cultural center.

Other state parks that may be affected include: Fort Wilkins and the Cooper Harbor Lighthouse in Copper Harbor, the Father Marquette National Memorial in St. Ignace and the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee.

The Escanaba Public Library, along with Fayette and the other three state parks in the Upper Peninsula receive funding from the state's Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).

In her budget proposal presented to legislators Thursday, the Department of History, Arts and Libraries would be eliminated, along with cuts to 11 of 18 other state department offices. Approximately 1,500 state employees would see their jobs eliminated as part of the budget proposal.

According to Caroline Stacey, director of the Escanaba Library, approximately 3 percent of the library's annual $500,000 budget is received from the state.

"The biggest impact we would anticipate, would be a reduction in services we receive for technical support and delivery programs," said Stacey.

The delivery program referred to by Stacey is part of the Library of Michigan program to deliver books to libraries throughout the state. The program is open to any resident of Michigan and provides access to books that a resident's local library may not carry.

"This is a program we would like to see continue," said Stacey. She also said she felt the budget proposal offered by the Governor was a structural change, with some programs being absorbed by other departments.

"It is difficult at this time to determine how funding, if any, received from the state, is going to be applied," said Stacey.

Fayette State Park and Museum along with other state parks in the Upper Peninsula will continue to operate as it has previously, according to Mary Dettloff of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Dettloff said the elimination of HAL was unfortunate as there has been a strong partnership between the two departments.

"The DNR is committed to its mission of preserving and protecting without interruption the history and culture of the residents of Michigan," she said.