$500,000 Added to FY23 State Aid to Libraries

July 1, 2022

MLA Members and Friends,

Your work to advocate for increased investment in libraries has again been rewarded. 

For the third straight year, MLA is proud to announce an additional $500,000 has been included in the State of Michigan budget for State Aid to Libraries. In addition, $800,000 was allocated for the library pilot program that addresses a partnership between public and school libraries. Resources were also included for the Poet Laureate ($100,000), and $1.2 million was awarded through an enhancement grant to the Inkster Library. (One hundred unique projects were identified to receive $205 million in the newly released budget.)

The state budget also includes $25 million for out of school time (OST) grants, split between intermediate school districts (ISD) and community-based organizations (CBO) with at least 60% going to CBO which includes nonprofits, libraries and local municipalities.  

No deal was reached between the Governor and the legislature for any major tax cuts or rebates, despite a near $9 billion state surplus. Federal stimulus packages and unexpectedly high tax collections have created the surplus and there will be further talks taking place this fall. Continued advocacy will be needed with the state legislature to ensure federal COVID relief dollars that remain unspent can be deployed for the benefit of public libraries and Michigan youth and families.

Linked here is a copy of the General Omnibus Budget for your perusal, as well as the Education Omnibus Budget which is where the OST grants are listed. 

Thank you to Governor Whitmer and to the Michigan Senators and Representatives who continue to recognize the value and importance that libraries bring to every community and campus throughout Michigan.

Deborah E. Mikula
Executive Director

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