MLA Strategic Plan 2022

Since 2019, the MLA Board of Directors has spent time and energy developing a strategic direction for MLA. The well-developed and executed plan has clarified and guided MLA in how best to utilize our time and resources in advancing the library community and meeting the future needs of all key stakeholders.

The adopted plan is a “rolling plan” and each year MLA is dedicated to revisiting it, talking through our challenges and successes to remain relevant as we address the needs of the field. A small group of key stakeholders was gathered in 2022 – Eva Davis, Scott Duimstra, Dillon Geshel, Michele Howard, Jenny Marr, Maria McCarville, Debbie Mikula, Kristin Shelley, Sophia Ward-Brewer, and Ryan Wieber to review and update the strategic direction for the next three years. We can’t thank them enough for the wisdom and thoughtful discourse that they shared on MLA’s future.

Major highlights for 2022-2024 and increased focus will be given to Intellectual freedom as a core value of the library profession and a basic right in our democratic society. We must protect Michiganders’ right to read, oppose attempts to ban books from Michigan libraries, educate the public about the right to read, oppose any legislation that infringes upon First Amendment rights and ensure that librarians across Michigan will be entrusted to continue to do their jobs and serve the needs of ALL individuals and communities.  As an organization that values those that are shaping the field for the future, we will be investing our time and resources to expand this work throughout each of our goal areas: advocacy, knowledge and community.

View the MLA Strategic Plan 2022-2023 (pdf).