MLA Committees and Work Groups
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Committees and work groups 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.
2020-2021 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: Jenny Marr
Ferndale Area District Library
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Betty Adams
Leanna Hicks Public Library
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Shirley Bruursema
Kent District Library
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Bryan Cloutier
Oxford Public Library
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Riti Grover
Farmington Community Library
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Jessica Keyser
Grosse Pointe Public Library
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Katherine Lester
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
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Cindy Mack
Brighton District Library
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Michael McCullough
Willard Library
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Clare Membiela
Library of Michigan
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Deborah E. Mikula
Executive Director
Michigan Library Association
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Larry Neal
Clinton-Macomb Public Library |
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Jasmine Parker
Ferndale Area District Library
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Dale Parus
Ionia Community Library
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Kelly Richards
Muskegon Area District Library
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Mary Rzepczynski
Delta Township District Library
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Erin Schmandt
Caro Area District Library
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Kristin Shelley
MLA Past President, 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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Amber Alexander
Library Director
Presque Isle District Library
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Scott Duimstra
Library Director
Capital Area District Library
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Jennifer Dye
Detroit Public Library
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Loretta Hunter
LRC Coordinator
Wayne County Community College District
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Katharyn Jones
Portage District Library
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Dennis Kreps
Bridgman Public Library
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Maria McCarville
Public Libraries of Saginaw
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Deborah E. Mikula
Executive Director
Michigan Library Association
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Ann Neff-Rohs
Jackson District Library
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Michael Postula
Ann Arbor District Library
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Karren Reish
Library of Michigan
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Sarah Rick
Michigan Department of Corrections
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Katherine Rothley
Lyon Township Public Library
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Staff Liaison: Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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Lisa Valerio-Nowc
Farmington Community Library
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Lisa Waskin
Superior District 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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Meghan Brody
Michigan State University Libraries
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Pamela Christensen
West End Health Foundation
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Mollie Freier
Northern Michigan University
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Valerie L. Meyerson
Petoskey District Library
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Deborah E. Mikula
Executive Director
Michigan Library Association
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Kristin Shelley
Library Director
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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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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Scott Duimstra
Library Director
Capital Area District Library
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Tim Gleisner
Head of Special Collections
Library of Michigan
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Karen Knox
Library Director
Orion Township Public Library
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Deborah E. Mikula
Executive Director
Michigan Library Association
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2020-2021 Professional Development Work Groups
Academic Libraries Work Group
The Academic Libraries and Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Chapter program work group 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 work group replaces the Academic Libraries Interest Group.
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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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Deborah E. Mikula
Executive Director
Michigan Library Association
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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 Work Group
The new trustee work group will assist in planning and creating programming, events and resources to assist Trustees in their roles.
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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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Deborah E. Mikula
Executive Director
Michigan Library Association
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Jennifer Moore
Kalamazoo Public Library
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Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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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 Annual Conference
Annual Conference is a three-day conference scheduled for October 28-30, 2020 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The work group 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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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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Staff Liaison: Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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Jill Spreitzer
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries
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MLA 2020 Virtual Conference
The new virtual MLA 2020 conference is scheduled for October 28 & 29 2020. The work group assists in the planning and execution of this event with up to 600 attendees, guests, speakers and exhibitors.
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Chair: Kevin King
Kalamazoo Public Library
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Vice-Chair: Claire Lopiccolo
Romeo District Library
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Amber Alexander
Presque Isle District Library
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Mattie Cook
Flat River Community Library
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Tim Gleisner
Library of Michigan
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Jill Lansky
Kalamazoo Public Library
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Bethany Maley
Kalamazoo Public Library
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Sherri McConnell
Capital Area District Libraries
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Terri New
Kalamazoo Public Library
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James Pugh
Orion Township Public Library
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Staff Liaison: Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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Jill Spreitzer
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries
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Andrea Vernola
Kalamazoo Public Library
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Jacqueline Wrosch
Eastern Michigan University
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Spring Institute 2021
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: Sara Magnuson
Kent District Library
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Vice-chair: Elissa Zimmer
Ferndale Area District Library
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Jill Anderson
Kent District Library
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Anne Heidemann
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries
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Jocelyn Levin
Lyon Township Public Library
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Dena Moscheck
Bay County Library System - Wirt Public Library
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Staff Liaison: Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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Ariel Wiborn
Veteran's Memorial Library
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Spring Institute 2020 - Now Fall Institute Preconference
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Chair: Beth Lowe
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Vice-Chair: Sara Magnuson
Kent District Library
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Karen Blackledge
Muskegon Area District Library
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Amanda Heidema
Herrick District Library
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Jocelyn Levin
Lyon Township Public Library
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Emily Marsh
Bay County Library System
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Dena Moscheck
Bay County Library System - Wirt Public Library
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Jessica Parij
Canton Public Library
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Monica Porter
University of Michigan
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Staff Liaison: Amber Sheerin
Michigan Library Association
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Elissa Zimmer
Ferndale Area District Library
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Michigan Library Awards
Reviews and updates award guidelines, encourages nominations, reviews nominees and selects the winners for our MLA professional recognition awards including the Librarian of the Year, Heart of a Champion, Rising Star, Frances H. Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth and Legislator of the Year. The Awards Committee also works closely with the annual conference work group that is planning the annual awards gala.
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Lauren Arnsman
Kalamazoo Public Library and Kellogg Community College
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Staff Liaison: Rachel Ash
Michigan Library Association
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Jolee Hamlin
Capital Area District Libraries |
Karen Knox
Orion Township Public Library |
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Cathleen Russ
Troy Public Library
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Sonya Schryer Norris
Library of Michigan
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2021 Literary Award Work Groups
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: Kimberlee Gardner
Rochester Hills Public Library
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Chair: Angela Warsinske
Rochester Hills Public Library
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Staff Liaison: Rachel Ash
Michigan Library Association
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Adrienne Baker
Herrick District Library
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Ashley Lehman
Orion Township Public Library
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Kirsten Malzahn
Novi Public Library
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Ashlee McClaughry
Bloomfield Township Library
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Kathleen Merucci
Salem-South Lyon District Library
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Everett Pine
Ferndale Area District Library
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Lisa Rodkey
Kent District Library
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Keegan Sulecki
Troy Public 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: Brittany Wesner
Clinton-Macomb Public Library
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Vice-Chair: Lisa Boyd
Canton Public Library
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Staff Liaison: Rachel Ash
Michigan Library Association
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Robert Chartrand
Capital Area District Libraries
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Maeve Devlin
Cromaine District Library |
Heather Draft
Cromaine District Library
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Jessica Keeler
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Jamie Klos
Clarkston Independence District Library
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Nakenya Lewis-Yarbrough
Belleville Area District Library
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Cassie Veselovsky
Capital Area District Libraries
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Diana Wenger
Muskegon Area District 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: Tracy Bedford
Clarkston Independence District Library
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Vice-Chair: Kristen Jayska
Livonia Public Library
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Staff Liaison: Rachel Ash
Michigan Library Association
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Kayla Dies
Paw Paw District Library
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Shanni Kerr
Ionia Community Library
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Becky Mangini
Chesterfield Public Library
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Amanda Shepard
Herrick District Library
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Sarah Swiderski
Salem-South Lyon District Library
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Sarah Welch
Big Rapids Community Library
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