Letter From Debbie

October 27, 2022

Perhaps we can all agree – change is the only constant in life. And who among us hasn’t seen their share of staff changes or board changes or direction changes or strategic priority changes within their organizations? I sure have. But it is the people who serve as my sounding board, help me set direction, and are always at the other end of the line when I call that I will always miss the most. Over the course of my four decades of work as an Executive Director, I have served with many wonderful individuals who have volunteered their time and energy presiding over some really wonderful and creative nonprofit institutions. And today, yet one more change is on the horizon. 

Ryan Wieber, our esteemed MLA President, and current director of the Kalamazoo Public Library is leaving us AND leaving Michigan. He has accepted the position of library director at Lincoln City Libraries in Nebraska and will begin his tenure there in December. While we will miss him, we know that change is inevitable and that this move is exactly what he was seeking.

We asked Ryan to share a few parting words.  

“I’m sad to leave KPL and my friends and colleagues in Michigan, but I’m excited to take on this new role and begin a new chapter in my career. I’ll always be grateful for the importance that MLA has played in my development as a librarian in Michigan!” - Ryan Wieber

Ryan stepped up last year during another leadership transition and has led MLA with integrity and inspiring ideas. This year has been challenging to say the least, but Ryan made sure we stayed focused and on-message, and allowed us room to move quickly and strategically in the face of daunting censorship challenges to the field. It is now time for him to turn the page and we wish him well in the next chapter of his life. We have achieved great things with him at the helm and he is sure to inspire a new group of library workers in Nebraska!

The MLA Board will be meeting in early December and at that time will approve yet another leadership change. No matter what…I think we’ll be in good hands!

Deborah E. Mikula
Executive Director

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