Advocacy Day

Join MLA and hundreds of library advocates from around Michigan on April 22, 2020 in Lansing and make your voices heard! Attendees will attend a half-day of advocacy training in the morning to learn the latest research and legislative priorities from the experts. The afternoon will be dedicated to “meet and greets” when advocates take their passion, knowledge, and stories to the state Capitol for meetings with their congressional leaders to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased funding for libraries throughout Michigan.

Our Honorary Chair is former State Senator and MLA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Jack Brandenburg along with Co-chairs Larry Neal, Director, Clinton-Macomb Public Library and Kathy Lester, Librarian, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.

New to Advocacy? Don’t Worry! MLA will be there with you every step of the way, the morning training session will give you everything you need to know to speak confidently about your views about the importance and value that libraries bring to our communities. Afterward attendees will meet with legislators in teams depending on appointment schedules. Our lobby firm, GCSI will take care of arranging meetings for all registrants with those in leadership roles in the House and Senate and those serving on Committees dealing with current legislative priorities.

Mark your calendars – APRIL 22, 2020 – and join us at the Cooley Law School, located just one block from the Capitol. Arrange a carpool with your library colleagues, talk with your co-op about sharing a bus with other libraries in your region. MLA will be putting together the details and will hope for a large turn-out of library supporters to share our message.