MLA Committees and Workgroups
Committees and workgroups selected during an annual call for volunteers help guide the work of MLA through identifying and developing future leaders, advising on the latest trends, planning educational events such as conferences and workshops, and selecting award winners. The Call for Volunteers is issued each spring. Learn more about participating.
2021-2022 Standing Committees
Advocacy and Legislative Committee
Monitors legislative and policy issues impacting libraries and makes policy recommendations to the board. Informs and educates members about state legislation and policy issues. Contact legislators as needed to educate them about library concerns.
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Chair: Jessica Keyser
Grosse Pointe Public Library
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Vice-Chair: Dale Parus
Ionia Community Library
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Staff Liaison: Deborah E. Mikula
Michigan Library Association
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Lobbyist: Bob Devries
Governmental Consultant Services, Inc.
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Staff Liaison: Lisa Buttigieg
Michigan Library Association
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Betty Adams
Leanna Hicks Public Library
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Shirley Bruusema
Kent District Library
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John A. Clexton
Gladwin District Library
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Bryan Cloutier
Oxford Public Library
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Tim Gleisner
Library of Michigan
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Kathy Lester
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
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Claire Lopiccolo
Romeo District Library
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Cindy Mack
Brighton District Library
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Jenny Marr
Ferndale Area District Library
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Michael McCullough
Willard Public Library
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Clare Membiela
Library of Michigan
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Larry Neal
Clinton-Macomb Public Library
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Jasmine Parker
Ferndale Area District Library
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Anne Heidemann
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries
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Jim Flury
The Library Network
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Erin Schmandt
Caro Area District Library
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Kristin Shelley
East Lansing Public Library
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Vanessa Verdun-Morris
Taylor Community Library
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Ryan Wieber
Kalamazoo Public Library
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Professional Development and Networking Committee
Anticipates emerging trends and hot topics. Works with staff as a think tank for ideas and insight to help identify the kinds of training our members will need to excel in the libraries of the future as well as today.
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Co-Chair: Kathryn Haas
Portage District Library
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Co-Chair: Dennis Kreps
Bridgman Public Library
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Staff Liaison: Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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Shauna Anderson
Taylor Community Library
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Julie Laxton
Capital Area District Library
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Ann Neff-Rohs
Jackson District Library
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Michael Postula
Ann Arbor District Library
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Sarah Rick
Millington Arbela District Library
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Maria McCarville
Public Libraries of Saginaw
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Jill Sodt
Mott Community College
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Lisa Valerio-Nowc
Farmington Community Library
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Nominating and Leadership Development Committee
Cultivates leadership potential within MLA membership to maintain strong and effective governance and solicits and evaluates nominations of candidates for service on the MLA Board of Directors.
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Chair: Jennifer Dean
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries
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Staff Liaison: Deborah E. Mikula
Michigan Library Association
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Mollie Freier
Northern Michigan University
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Valerie L. Meyerson
Petoskey District Library
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Kristin Shelley
East Lansing Public Library
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Eric Stanton
Capital Area District Libraries
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Kate Van Auken
White Pine Library Cooperative
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Lisa Waskin
Superior District Library
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Finance Committee
Provides financial oversight for the organization, including budgeting and financial planning, financial reporting, and the creation and monitoring of internal controls and accountability policies in support of the MLA Board of Directors.
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Chair: Scott Duimstra
Capital Area District Library
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Staff Liaison: Deborah E. Mikula
Michigan Library Association
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Tim Gleisner
Library of Michigan
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2021-2022 Professional Development Workgroups
Academic Libraries Workgroup
The Academic Libraries and Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Chapter program Workgroup works to promote the role and work of libraries on college and university campuses and plan and offer professional development opportunities and support to professional and support staff. This Workgroup replaces the Academic Libraries Interest Group.
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Staff Liaison: Deborah E. Mikula
Michigan Library Association
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Marc Boucher
Lake Superior State University
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Jennifer L. Dean
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries
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Kristin Fontichiaro
University of Michigan
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Mollie Freier
Northern Michigan University
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Kathy Irwin
Central Michigan University
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Tashia Munson
Washtenaw Community College
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Stacy Nowicki
Kalamazoo College Upjohn Library
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Monique Oldfield
Wayne State University Libraries
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Monica Porter
University of Michigan
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Michele Pratt
Delta College Library
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Jill Sodt
Mott Comity College
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Allie VanDoren
Lake Superior State University
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Leslie Warren
Northern Michigan University
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Jacqueline Wrosch
Eastern Michigan University
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Trustee Workgroup
The trustee workgroup will assist in planning and creating programming, events and resources to assist Trustees in their roles.
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Staff Liaison: Deborah E. Mikula
Michigan Library Association
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Burton Brooks
Loutit District Library
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Jeff Croff
Capital Area District Libraries
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Jeffrey Hopp
Presque Isle District Library
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Jennifer Moore
Kalamazoo Public Library
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MaryAnne Thorndycraft
Orion Township Library
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Amy Zaagman
East Lansing Public Library
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MLA 2021 Virtual Conference
The MLA 2021 Virtual Annual Conference will be held virtually on October 13-14, 2021 via Hopin. The workgroup assists in the planning and execution of this event with up to 600 attendees, guests, speakers and exhibitors.
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Chair: Claire Lopiccolo
Romeo District Library
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Mollie Barkovich
Gobles Elementary School Library
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Staff Liaison: Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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Lynn Bieszka
Warren Public Library
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Mattie Cook
Flat River Community Library
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Betsy Hull
Capital Area District Libraries
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Sean Lyons
Capital Area District Libraries
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Eric Palmer
Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative
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Jill Spreitzer
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries
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MLA 2022 Annual Conference
The MLA 2022 Annual Conference is scheduled for October of 2022. The workgroup assists in the planning and execution of this event with up to 600 attendees, guests, speakers and exhibitors.
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Chair: Scott Duimstra
Capital Area District Libraries
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Vice-Chair: Dillon Geshel
Portage Lake District Library
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Staff Liaison: Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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Chelsey Boss
Adrian District Library
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Sarah Burchart
ICPSR
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Andrea Ingmire
Peter White Public Library
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Amber Johnson
Chesterfield Township Library
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Brian R. Johnston
Lincoln Township Public Library
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Elizabeth Kish
Genesee District Library
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Breck McCrory
Chesterfield Township Library
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Eric Palmer
Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative
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Cindi L. Place
Bellaire Public Library
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Shane Stewart
Chesterfield Township Library
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Lisa Waskin
Superior District Library
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Spring Institute 2022
This two-day conference brings together approximately 200 statewide children and teen service librarians to share, learn and experience best practices. Help plan valuable programming that includes national award-winning authors, illustrators and storytellers.
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Chair: Elissa Zimmer
Van Buren District Library
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Vice-Chair: Jocelyn Levin
Lyon Township Public Library
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Staff Liaison: Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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Jill M. Anderson
Kent District Library
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Rebekah Hudzik-Gordon
Cromaine District Library
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Anthony Isom
Adrian District Library
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Wesleyann Johnson
Center Line Public Library
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Ashley Lehman
Orion Township Public Library
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Kendra Moyer
Wayne State University - Masters Student
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Statewide Library Marketing and Public Relations Workgroup
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Chair: Kristin Shelley
East Lansing Public Library
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Staff Liaison: Deborah E. Mikula
Michigan Library Association
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Staff Liaison: Rachel Ash
Michigan Library Association
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Linda Adams
Northland Library Cooperative
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Steven Bowers
The Library Network
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Laura Fromwiller
Oxford Public Library
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Laurie Golden
Canton Public Library
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Deb Hemmye
Farmington Community Library
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Jeffrey Milosevich
Ferndale Area District Library
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Sarah Neidert
Brighton District Library
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Adam Oster
Library of Michigan
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James Pugh
Orion Township Public Library
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Kelly Rembert
Southfield Public Library
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Katie Rothley
Lyon Township Public Library
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Mary Ann Short
Grosse Pointe Public Library
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Trent Smiley
Capital Area District Libraries
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Ryan Tackabury
Genesee District Library
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Tammy Turgeon
Sterling Heights Public Library/SLC/MLCDA
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Lisa Waskin
Superior District Library
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Michigan Library Awards - MLA Awards Selection Workgroup
Reviews and updates award guidelines, encourages nominations, reviews nominees and selects the winners for our MLA professional recognition awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Public Librarian of the Year, Heart of a Champion, Rising Star, Frances H. Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth and Support Staff of the Year.
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Chair: Cathleen Russ
West Bloomfield Township Library
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Staff Liaison: Rachel Ash
Michigan Library Association
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Lauren Arnsman
Troy Public Library
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Jolee Hamlin
Capital Area District Libraries
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Jennifer Hassell
Farmington Community Library
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Chris Potts
Capital Area District Libraries
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Kristen Valyi-Hax
Harper Woods Public Library
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2022 Literary Award Workgroups
Mitten Award
Recognizes and promotes quality literature for youth in picture book format. Read more about the Mitten Award here.
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Chair: Adrienne Baker
Herrick District Library
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Vice-Chair: Lisa Rodkey
Kent District Library
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Staff Liaison: Rachel Ash
Michigan Library Association
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Nellie Danke
Suttons Bay - Bingham District Library
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Holly Kirsten
Chesterfield Township Library
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Jamie Klos
Clarkston Independence District Library
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Kathy Merucci
Salem-South Lyon District Library
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Dena Moscheck
Bay County Library System
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Beth Pierson
White Lake Community Library
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Everett Pine
Ferndale Area District Library
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Carolyn Sherrill
Sterling Heights Public Library
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Jeanette Smith
Romeo District Library
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Leigh Verburg
Kent District Library
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Loni Wetherell
Cromaine District Library
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YouPer (Young Person) Award
Recognizes and promotes quality literature for youth in chapter book format. Read more about the YouPer Award here.
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Chair: Lisa Boyd
Canton Public Library
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Vice-Chair: Heather Draft
Cromaine District Library
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Staff Liaison: Rachel Ash
Michigan Library Association
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Tracy Bedford
Rochester Hills Public Library
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Liz Clauder
Bloomfield Township Public Library
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Maeve Devlin
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Gretchen Dula
Jackson District Library
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Fillippa Genovese
Clinton-Macomb Public Library
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Jessica Keeler
Plymouth District Library
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Katie Perkey
Orion Township Public Library
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Elizabeth Wierenga
Kent District Library
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Thumbs Up! Award
Recognizes an outstanding contribution to teen literature that has both literary quality and teen appeal for those 13 to 18 years of age. Read more about the Thumbs Up! Award here.
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Chair: Sarah Swiderski
Salem-South Lyon District Library
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Vice-Chair: Sarah Welch
Big Rapids Community Library
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Staff Liaison: Rachel Ash
Michigan Library Association
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Natalya Anton
Fowlerville District Library
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Robert Chartrand
Capital Area District Libraries
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Kayla Dies
Paw Paw District Library
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Nicole Johnson
Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library
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Shanni Kerr
Ionia Community Library
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Becky Mangini
Chesterfield Public Library
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Emily Marsh
Bay County Library System
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Jennifer Noble
Adrian District Library
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Amanda Shepard
Herrick District Library
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Jana Slisher
Bath Township Public Library
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