Close up of Education Muse painted on the interior of the Capitol dome in Lansing, Mi

MLA Advocacy News

Michigan Library Advocacy Day will Focus on Advocating for MeL Funding

On Wednesday, April 30, library supporters from all over Michigan will gather at the Capitol in Lansing to meet with legislators to advocate for all Michigan libraries and shine a light on the incredible impact libraries make on our communities! Our ASK of Michigan Legislators: Fund MeL, the Library of Michigan’s interlibrary loan program, and other statewide initiatives at $6.74 million in FY 2026, increasing the state’s investment by $5 million.

Review our MeL Fact Sheet and talking points here (pdf)

ALA State of America's Libraries Report 2025

During National Library Week on April 7, the American Library Association (ALA) released its annual snapshot of library trends.

Read about the issues impacting libraries and find out which books made the Top Ten Most Challenged Books list in the State of America’s Libraries 2025 Report.

ALA Defends ERate at Supreme Court

On Wednesday, March 26, oral arguments began in the U.S. Supreme Court case brought by Consumers’ Research, which argues that the Universal Service Fund—the mechanism supporting E-Rate—is unconstitutional. E-Rate is the program that provides affordable broadband to schools and libraries nationwide for nearly three decades. Listen to the arguments. Learn more

Read the brief for the American Library Association as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioners: Federal Communications Commission v. Consumer’s Research

Freedom to Read Legislation Reintroduced in House

MI State Representatives Veronica Paiz and Carol Glanville are still working on behalf of Michigan public libraries and have reintroduced Freedom to Read legislation - now HB4250 and HB4251. We look forward to working with them during this new legislative cycle to move these bills through. Stay tuned.

Nonprofit Letter to Michigan's Congressional Delegation

MLA, along with more than 500 institutions from Michigan’s nonpartisan, nonprofit and philanthropic sector, has signed on to a letter to Congressional leaders to voice our concerns about the continued efforts to withhold federal funding committed to nonprofits.